Passport holders from certain countries do not require a visit visa or an eTA to visit Canada. They enter based on their nationality and are only required to have a valid identity document or passport. Citizens of the following countries can enter Canada without a visit visa or eTA:

• The United States of America

• Travellers with valid status in Canada (e.g. visitor, student or worker) who re-enters Canada after only visiting the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon.

• French citizens who live in Saint Pierre and Miquelon and are flying directly to Canada from St. Pierre and Miquelon.
• Foreign nationals who are passengers destined to, or coming from, the United States on a flight that stops in Canada solely to refuel and
  • have proper documents to enter the United States, or
  • were lawfully admitted to the United States.
• Foreign nationals who are passengers on a flight that makes an unscheduled stop in Canada.
• Foreign nationals who transit through a Canadian airport under the Transit Without Visa or China Transit Program.

• Flight crew, civil aviation inspectors, accident investigators who are or will be working while in Canada.
• Members of Armed Forces (not including the civilian component of an armed forces) of a country designated under the Visiting Forces Act coming to Canada to carry out official duties.
• Diplomats accredited by the Government of Canada.

Passport holders from certain countries do not require a visit visa to enter Canada but they will require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). eTAs cost $7 and are applied for online through the Canadian government website. Travelers flying to Canada require an eTA whether they are entering Canada or transiting through on their way to another destination. Travellers do not need an eTA if they are entering Canada by land or sea. Citizens of the following countries require an eTA to enter Canada:

When you enter Canada, in most cases, you will be allowed to stay for a maximum of six months. In some cases, an officer may reduce the amount of time you can remain in Canada. This could be due to the fact that your passport is expiring in less than six months, or they have some concerns about your visit. If the officer is going to limit your stay in Canada to less than six months, they will write the date on which you need to leave Canada in your passport, and they may issue you with a document called a Visitor Record which will have the date that you need to leave Canada by.

Some airports in Canada now have kiosks that you use on arrival as opposed to seeing a physical border services officer. If you enter Canada through a kiosk, you will not receive a stamp in your passport. In these cases, you can stay in Canada for six months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you need a stamp in your passport, you can ask a border services officer for one. If you used a kiosk, ask a border services officer to stamp your passport after you have finish at the kiosk.

If you are in Canada and would like to stay in Canada for longer than six months, you can apply to extend your stay in Canada. This application can be submitted online through the Canadian government’s website. The extension costs $100 to apply for, and there is no guarantee that an officer will extend your stay as it is at their discretion. You would be allowed to remain in Canada while waiting for the decision on your application for an extension.

Visit visas and eTAs allow travellers to visit Canada for up to six months. You cannot study most programs while on a visit visa or eTA, and you cannot work in Canada on a visit visa or eTA. If you wish to study in Canada, in most cases you need to apply for a study permit. Click here to see who is exempt from requiring a study permit. If you wish to work in Canada, in most cases you will need to apply for a work permit. Click here to see who is exempt from requiring a work permit.