VISA INFORMATION
Entering Canada: Tips for Travellers
All international travellers must carry acceptable identification and a valid visa (if necessary) when entering Canada. A passport is recommended because it is the only reliable and universally-accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel.
International transport companies, such as airlines, must make sure that travellers have proper, valid travel documents. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be refused entry into Canada. What you need will depend on where you are from, how you are travelling, and what documents you are travelling with. Consult entry requirements by country.
*Citizens of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS program may present their membership card as proof of identification and as a document that denotes citizenship, when arriving by air (when coming from the U.S.), land, or marine modes.
**Citizens of the U.S. who are members of the FAST program may use their cards as proof of identity when arriving by land and marine modes only.
***Permanent residents of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs must travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence, and may be asked to present these documents to the officer upon arrival at the border.
All visitors arriving from or transiting through the U.S. are encouraged to visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information concerning the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and the requirements to enter or return to the U.S.
In addition to a Passport, you may also need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization. The only exceptions are US Citizens, who require only their passport. Find out if you need a visitor visa or ETA. The entry document you need depends on:
- the type of travel document you plan to travel with
- the country that issued your travel document
- your nationality
- your method of travel to Canada for this trip
You can apply online for a Visa through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s IRCC Secure Network. Travellers requiring a VISA should contact their meeting organizer to obtain a VISA Letter of Invitation to provide with their VISA Application.
There is also a biometric requirement for persons coming from a country that requires a visa.
- As of 2018 – applicants from Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas who would normally require a visa will also need to give their biometric as part of their visa application.
The biometric must be collected at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) overseas, and as it forms part of the visa application, it must be provided before a visa application can be decided upon. The biometric must be given in person at any of the 139 VACs in 53 countries around the globe. The biometric cannot be collected at the airport overseas, OR upon arrival OR in Canada.
Visa – exempt countries and Electronic Travel Authorizations:
All other countries will require an eTA (along with your passport). An eTA can be applied for on your smartphone or computer. Most applications are approved within minutes, but we recommend applying a few months before scheduled travel in case you need to provide additional documents. The only exception are US Citizens, who require only their passport. Persons who require an eTA do not need to provide a biometric. Apply here: eTA
Requirements may vary depending on the country you’re travelling from — or transiting through. Find current information on entry requirements on the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website