Check up-to-date Canada Visa Policy for your Country

Visa Policy for Canada

On this page, you can check the visa policy of Canada for your nationality and discover the requirements you need to meet to travel to the country.

Check Canadian visa options for passport holders of your country by browsing the boxes below.

The Canadian visa policy determines who needs a visa or travel authorization to enter and who may enter the country without a visa. It also outlines the requirements for foreign citizens who do need a visa for Canada to travel to, enter, and remain within the country.

The Canadian immigration policy currently states that citizens of over 50 countries around the world are able to visit Canada visa-free. The majority of these travelers are required to register for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) online before departure if entering Canada by air.

The Canada eTA is quick and easy to get. Travelers simply fill in a short online form and their visa-free journey will be authorized soon afterwards (usually within 24 hours).

The only exception is citizens or permanent residents of the United States, who are not required to obtain an eTA to travel to Canada.

All travelers who are not visa-exempt are required to apply for a visa from a Canadian government diplomatic office in their country of residence.

When applying for an embassy visa, it is necessary to indicate which of the different types of visa for Canada the applicant requires. This may be a Canadian visitor visa for tourism, a business visa, work visa, student visa, or transit visa to pass through on the way to an onward destination.

Travelers who do not need a visa for short stays, are required to apply for an embassy visa to travel to Canada for longer periods or purposes not permitted visa-exempt or with an eTA.

Below you will find a full list of travel visa restrictions for Canada. Browse the list to discover the requirements for your nationality. You can also check this page periodically to keep track of any Canadian immigration policy changes.

Tourist Visa Policy for Canada

The visa policy for traveling to Canada for tourism depends on the nationality of the traveler.

Over 50 nationalities are able to enter Canada without a visa for short stays as a tourist. To enjoy this visa exemption, the majority of visa-free nationalities are required to submit an electronic travel authorization (eTA) application online and receive approval before they can visit Canada if traveling by air.

It takes a matter of minutes to apply for the eTA. The online platform means that travelers can get their travel authorization easily using any device connected to the internet. There is no need to go to an embassy or office; registration can be done from home.

This is not a requirement for United States citizens and permanent residents, who are able to enter Canada visa-free for up to 180 days by presenting either a valid US passport, passport card, or NEXUS traveler card.

Tourists from certain countries will need a tourist visa from a Canadian diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate).

Applicants for a Canadian embassy visa are usually required to make an appointment at the nearest consulate of Canada, bringing along a completed visa application form.

It is necessary to meet different Canadian visa requirements for supporting documents depending on the type of visa for Canada the applicant requests.

Find below further information about the visa policy of Canada for your nationality.

eTA for Canada

Citizens of over 50 nationalities across the world have an exemption from applying for a visa for Canada for short stays.

To enjoy the perks of visa exemption, eligible travelers (excluding US residents) must pre-register for an electronic travel authorization for Canada (eTA).

The eTA authorizes entry to the country by air for a short stay. It can be used for tourism, business or transit purposes.

The Canada eTA program was introduced in 2015 and obtaining an electronic travel authorization is a mandatory requirement for most visa-exempt nationalities arriving by air.

Eligible citizens are able to register for a Canadian eTA through a simple online application.

It takes just a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. You will then receive an approved travel authorization electronically linked to your passport.

An approved eTA for Canada is a multiple–entry travel authorization that allows the holder to stay in Canada for up to 6 months with each entry. It is valid for 5 years from the date of issue, or until the associated passport expires, whichever comes first.

A Canada electronic travel authorization is not required for overland entry or for entry by sea.

Those who wish to visit Canada for longer consecutive periods, or purposes such as to work or study, should contact their nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate for further information.

Below you will find a comprehensive list of all the countries for which an eTA is needed to visit Canada.

if there are any special conditions/exemptions for this visa type in this country

Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Vatican City

Canada eTA Info

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Canada eTA Exemptions

Aside from US citizens, nationals and and permanent residents, and citizens permanent residents of Canada, the following persons are exempt from having to obtain a Canada eTA:

Holders of a visa for Canada
Flight crew members
Members of the Canadian royal family
Visiting armed force members from a designated state
Holders of diplomatic acceptances
French citizens residing in Saint Pierre and Miquelon who enter Canada directly from the territory
A person who is conducting inspections of flight operation procedures or cabin safety of a commercial air carrier operating international flights, who holds valid documentation
Those with a valid study, work, or temporary resident permit for Canada who will only visit the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, provided that they return to Canada before their period of authorized stay expires.
Holders of a valid Canadian refugee travel document

Additionally, passengers on a flight that has made an emergency landing in Canada do not need an eTA, nor do travelers on a flight that originated from or travels to the United States and has stopped in Canada for refueling.

Canada Embassy or Consular Visa Required

The Canada visa policy states that there are currently over 190 nationalities who are required to obtain a Canadian embassy visa in advance of travel, no matter the intended purpose and duration of the stay in Canada.

These citizens are required to apply for a visa from a Canadian Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence well in advance of their intended arrival, to allow for sufficient processing time for the visa.

The protocol of applying for a Canadian embassy visa usually involves making an appointment at a government diplomatic office of Canada and attending a visa interview with a range of supporting documentation depending on the visa type the applicant requires.

It is usually necessary to bring along a completed Canada visa application, indicating whether the traveler needs a Canadian tourist visa, transit visa, student visa, business visa or work visa on the form. The validity period of an approved embassy visa depends on the purpose of the travel.

Depending on the applicant’s nationality, it may be possible to submit an application for a Canada visitor visa, work permit, study permit and certain types of permanent residency online without having to visit an embassy. However, in these cases, it is necessary for the individual to supply biometric data (fingerprints, a current photograph) as part of the application.

Visitors are eligible for tourist visas if they are in good health, have sufficient ties with their home country (job, home, financial assets, or family), and have sufficient financial means for their stay. In some cases, a medical exam or a letter of invitation may be required.

Browse the list below and discover if you need an embassy visa for Canada to travel to the country.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Paraguay
Peru
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United States Virgin Islands
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Get Embassy Info

CAN+ Program and other Visa Programs

Travelers of some nationalities who have visited Canada in the last 10 years or who possess a valid US visa are eligible to participate in the program known as CAN+.

The CAN+ program was introduced by the Canadian government in order to make it easier and faster for foreign citizens who have ties to Canada to obtain a visa for the country.

Eligible citizens are able to apply for a visa through CAN+ at select Canadian diplomatic offices. The program greatly simplifies the process of obtaining a visa for Canada, as applicants are required to present less supporting documentation than for a traditional Canadian embassy visa.

Applicants who meet the criteria of CAN+ do not need to provide financial documents with their application submission, and will also qualify for expedited processing.

In order to apply for a Canada visa through CAN+, the applicant is only required to supply proof of travel to the US, as well as proof of traveling to Canada in the last 10 years or a valid US visa.

Additionally, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents are able to apply for a parent and grandparent Super visa for Canada. This visa type permits the holder to spend up to a maximum of 5 years in Canada without having to renew their status. Super visa provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years.

US permanent residents and citizens of a Canada visa-exempt country are also able to apply for a visa through these programs, but will not be given a visa label in their passport. Instead, such applicants must also apply for a Canada eTA after their visa application has been approved.

Visa Not Required for Canada

Canadian visa laws state that certain nationalities do not need a visa for Canada to enter the country, nor do they need to register for an eTA.

At the moment, there is only one country whose citizens are not required to obtain any kind of permit to visit Canada.

Nationals of the United States can enter and stay in Canada for up to 6 months within a 1-year period without having to apply for a travel authorization. They simply have to show some proof of US citizenship or nationality.

This also applies to foreign citizens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who possess a valid US Permanent Resident Card (Green card) or a valid Alien Documentation Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp.

It is only necessary for such individuals to show proof of their U.S. permanent residence status as well as their passport or another acceptable travel document if attempting to cross a Canadian land border from the USA.

However, US permanent residents arriving by air, regardless of the purpose of entry or whether they have a valid study or work permit, are required to have an eTA to enter Canada, as well as a valid passport and proof of US residency.

There are also some restrictions for entering Canada from the US. All travelers from the US must convince a Canadian border official that they are in good health, and have strong ties in their home country and sufficient financial means for the stay. In some cases, a medical exam or a letter of invitation may also be required to gain entry to Canada.

Find below an up-to-date list of all Canadian visa not required countries below.

United States

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Transit Visa Not Required

Nationals of visa-exempt countries are eligible to transit through Canada without a visa regardless of final destination and modes of transport, however, all visa-exempt travelers except U.S. nationals are required to have an eTA for transit if arriving by air.

Nationals of the United States and US permanent residents are eligible to transit through Canada without a visa regardless of the final destination and mode of transport used.

Under the Transit Without Visa Program (TWOV) and the China Transit Program (CTP), select non-visa-exempt nationalities traveling to and from the United States who meet certain criteria are also exempt from a consular Canadian transit visa. To be eligible, it is necessary to meet all the following conditions:

Have a valid US embassy visa
Travel on an approved airline (Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Westjet, Xiamen Airlines, or on Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz Air, Sky Regional Airlines, or Air Georgian)
Transit through a participating Canadian international airport
If arriving from outside the United States, clear US immigration and customs at the airport during Canadian Border Patrol preclearance operating hours on the same calendar day.

Additionally, individuals eligible for these programs must remain in the designated international transit area when arriving in Canada from the US, or the post-preclearance area when arriving from a third country, after clearing US immigration and customs.

In order to clear US immigration and customs when traveling to the United States, Canada transit visa-exempt citizens must be in possession of a valid, unexpired US visa.

Nevertheless, it is possible to use an expired US visa for transit when traveling from the United States to a third country, if the passenger is not under a removal or deportation order and has not overstayed their authorized period in the USA.

Other visa information for Canada

Transit Visa Required, in general, a foreign national who needs to transit through Canada needs a transit visa, unless they fulfill one of the conditions listed below.

The document you need to transit through Canada depends on several factors, such as the mode of travel (by air, land, sea), how long you will be in Canada, the nationality of your passport, and other factors, such as whether you are a permanent resident of the United States or a US visa holder.

You need a transit visa if you’re from a visa-required country and:

your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country
you’ll be connecting between 2 international flights at a Canadian airport
you’ll transit through Canada in 48 hours or less
you don’t have a valid visitor visa

Canada Visa Policy

Visa Policy for Canada

Tourist Visa Policy for Canada

eTA for Canada

eTA for Canada: Country list

Canada eTA Exemptions

Canada Embassy or Consular Visa Required

Canada Embassy or Consular Visa Required: Country list

CAN+ Program and other Visa Programs

Visa Not Required for Canada

Visa Not Required for Canada: Country list

Transit Visa Not Required

Other visa information for Canada

Ekaterina Powell

US Immigration Attorney

Visa requirements checker

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