Canada eTA Checklist — Who Needs It and What You Need
A Canadian eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is a light pre-screening for visa-exempt travellers who fly to — or transit through — Canada. The trap most people fall into is the mode of travel: the same traveller who needs an eTA arriving by air does not need one arriving by land or sea. Here is the split, and how to apply. Verified against official Canada.ca pages via Wayback snapshots, September 2026 — see the note on sources below. Arriving by air and visa-exempt? This is your page. Applying for a visitor visa instead? See our Canada visitor visa checklist.
Stage A — Decide whether you need an eTA
- ☐ Most travellers flying to Canada, or transiting through a Canadian airport, need either a visa or an eTA.
- ☐ If you are a visa-exempt national travelling by air — to visit or to transit — you need an eTA.
- ☐ If you are visa-exempt but arriving by car, bus, train or boat (including a cruise ship), you do not need an eTA — it is an air-only requirement.
- ☐ Some visa-required nationals can apply for an eTA instead of a visa to fly to Canada, but they still need a visitor visa for land or sea arrival.
- ☐ Travelling within Canada? You do not need an eTA.
- ☐ If you need a visitor visa (TRV) rather than an eTA, use the Canada visitor visa checklist.
Stage B — Know what an eTA does — and does not do
- ☐ An eTA does not guarantee entry. A border officer still checks your passport and other documents, and you must show that you are eligible to enter.
- ☐ It is electronically linked to the passport you apply with — if you get a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA.
- ☐ It is not a substitute for a visa if you are not visa-exempt.
Stage C — Gather what you need
- ☐ A valid passport — the eTA is tied to it.
- ☐ A credit or debit card to pay the fee.
- ☐ An email address to receive the decision.
- ☐ Answers to a few questions you complete online as part of the application.
Stage D — Apply and check status
- ☐ Apply online through the official Government of Canada eTA service — not a third-party site.
- ☐ Save the confirmation so you can check your status online with the official eTA status tool if you need to.
Stage E — Know how long it lasts
- ☐ An eTA is valid for up to 5 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first.
- ☐ Within that time you can travel to Canada multiple times.
- ☐ Each stay is usually up to 6 months.
Three things that trip people up
- The air/land split — needing an eTA for a flight but not for the same trip by land or sea.
- Assuming the eTA guarantees entry — it does not; the border officer decides.
- Getting a new passport — the eTA is tied to the old one, so you must reapply.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a Canada eTA?
Visa-exempt travellers who fly to Canada, or transit through a Canadian airport, need an eTA. Most travellers arriving by air need either a visa or an eTA.
Do I need an eTA if I arrive by land or sea?
No. The eTA is an air requirement. Visa-exempt travellers arriving by car, bus, train or boat — including cruise ships — do not need one.
How long does a Canada eTA last?
Up to 5 years, or until the passport you applied with expires if that is sooner. You can travel multiple times in that period, usually staying up to 6 months each visit.
Does an eTA guarantee I can enter Canada?
No. It does not guarantee entry — a border officer will check your passport and other documents, and you must show you are eligible to enter.
What if I get a new passport?
An eTA is electronically linked to the passport you applied with, so a new passport means you must apply for a new eTA.
I need a visa, not an eTA — where do I go?
If you are not visa-exempt, or you are applying for a visitor visa, use our Canada visitor visa checklist.
Canada details above were read from official Canada.ca pages via Wayback snapshots (23 September 2026), because the live site was unreachable at the time of writing; the eTA fee and processing times were not confirmed and should be re-checked on the official page before you apply. Related: Canada visitor visa documents, the photo size chart, the passport photo checker, and every country on the visa checklists hub.