Visitor Visas and Electronic Travel Authorizations

It's exciting to travel internationally, but you need to ensure you have the proper entry documents to enter Canada successfully.

Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa)

Visitor visas, commonly known as temporary resident visas, are sticker-type documents placed directly on a page in your passport; this type of visa is only needed if you come from a visa-required country. Your entrance visa outlines how many times you can enter Canada, how long it's valid for, and other important details. If you are from a country that requires you to obtain a visa to travel, we recommend that you ensure your visa remains valid, even if you have no immediate plans to travel. This is so you can be ready to travel in the event of a sudden emergency or for international opportunities related to your studies. Even if you have a valid visitor visa, make sure you're prepared to answer questions from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer about your entry to Canada.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for those who are travelling to Canada by air and are from visa-exempt countries. An eTA is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for up to five years or the expiry date of your passport, whichever comes first. Even if you don't plan on travelling soon, we recommend to ensure your eTA remains valid so you can be ready to travel for emergency reasons or for international opportunities related to your studies. Having a valid eTA does not guarantee you entry to Canada; you will still have to prove your eligibilty to enter the country to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer.