COVID-19 Travel Information

Canada lifts covid restrictions from September 30th. 

Insurance information and requirements 

To visit Canada, you need worldwide travel insurance to cover you for loss, damage and theft of your belongings, cancellation or curtailment of your trip, and public liability if you should cause accidental damage or injury. You'll need to choose worldwide travel insurance including Canada, USA and the Caribbean.

Minimal insurance coverage is 50 000$

The USA citizens can visit Canada without a visa. Citizens of other countries need eTA(53) or Visa(144).

Electronic Authorization System(eTA)

What is an Electronic Travel Authorization?

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. An eTA is electronically linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.  If you get a new passport, you need to get a new eTA.

With a valid eTA, you can travel to Canada as often as you want for short stays (normally for up to six months at a time). You do not need an eTA for travel within Canada.

An eTA doesn’t guarantee entry to Canada. When you arrive, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and other documents. You must convince the officer that you are eligible for entry into Canada.

Who needs an eTA to travel to Canada?

There are 4 types of travellers:

- Travellers who need an eTA:

a) Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. These travellers do not need an eTA when arriving by car, bus, train or boat (including a cruise ship).

- Travellers who may be eligible to apply for an eTA:

a) Citizens from select visa-required countries may be eligible to apply for an eTA, instead of a visa, to travel to Canada by air. However, these travellers need a visitor visa when arriving by car, bus, train, or boat, including a cruise ship.

- Travellers who cannot apply for an eTA and need to carry other identification:

a) Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, need a valid Canadian passport. American-Canadians can travel with a valid Canadian or U.S. passport.

b) Canadian permanent residents need a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document.

Important – former residents of Canada: Permanent resident (PR) status does not expire. If you once lived in Canada many years ago, you could still have PR status.

Visa-required including alien’s passport holders and stateless individuals.

-Travellers who are exempt from the eTA requirement.

a) U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement and must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport.

b) Lawful permanent residents of the United States who hold valid status in the U.S. are exempt from the eTA requirement.

They must carry official proof of status (or an equivalent status document) and a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent travel document).

How do I apply for an eTA for travel to Canada?

Only apply for an eTA on this official Government of Canada website. 

Applying for an eTA is a simple online process that takes just a few minutes to complete. Most applicants get their eTA approval (via an email) within minutes. However, some requests can take several days to process if you're asked to submit supporting documents. It is best to get an eTA before you book your flight to Canada.

An eTA costs CAD $7. You can only apply and pay for one person at a time.

To complete the form, you will need your passport, a credit card, and an email address. You must also answer a few questions.

Visitor visa

About the document

A visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa) is an official document that we stick in your passport. It shows that you meet the requirements needed to enter Canada.

Visitors are persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and are legally authorized to enter Canada to:

- visit Canada on holiday (vacation)

- unite with a family member

- visit on business

- attend a funeral or provide support to a critically ill person

- join a vessel (marine crew member)

- assume a diplomatic post

- come with an immediate family member who’s assuming a diplomatic post

- handle the affairs of a victim of Ukraine Airlines PS752

- get the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET)

Most travellers need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. You may also need one if you’re transiting through a Canadian airport on your way to your final destination.

You can apply for a visitor visa online or on paper.

How long you can stay

Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.

At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If so, they’ll put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They might also give you a document, called a visitor record, which will show the date you need to leave by.

If you don’t get a stamp in your passport, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you need a stamp, you can ask a border services officer for one. If you arrive at an airport that uses primary inspection kiosks, ask the border officer after you finish at the kiosk.

Make sure you need a visitor visa before you apply

You may need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization. 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

Steps to apply for a visitor visa

Step 1: Check if you’re eligible to travel to Canada

You must bring evidence that you meet the eligibility requirements to travel at this time. Visit following link to check who can travel to Canada.

Step 2: Get the documents that show you meet the criteria for a visitor visa

To visit as a tourist: 

- About the documents listed

- Not all documents listed below are required – some are optional.

- This is not an exhaustive list of acceptable proof to support your visa application.

- Only submit the optional documents that can prove you’re eligible for a visa.

- Even if you submit all the documents listed, there is no guarantee that we’ll approve your application.

- Canadian government may request more information from you outside of what is listed here.

- Proof of vaccination is required

- ArriveCAN receipt (electronic or paper) is required

You must use ArriveCAN to enter your proof of vaccination information. You must enter this information within 72 hours before your arrival in Canada.You need to show it to border services officer when you arrive in Canada (at a Canadian airport or a land port of entry)

You must use the ArriveCAN app before checking in at the airport or crossing the border. Learn about ArriveCAN and download the app. 

Submit your:

- travel and contact information

- quarantine plan

- COVID-19 symptom self-assessment

- COVID-19 proof of vaccination

Show border services officer on arrival in Canada.

- Travel history (optional) – visa application

If you’ve travelled to Canada or to other countries, this can show that you’ve been able to get a visa in the past.

Proof of this includes copies of previous visas in your passport

A clear copy of 1 or more of the following:

1) your previous passports and/or visas (used within the last 10 years to travel outside your country)

2) entry and exit stamps

3) study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside of your country

4) expired or valid visas

Travel history submit with visa application.

- Itinerary (optional) – visa application

Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do in Canada.

Copies of any of the following:

1) flight details

2) hotel reservations

3) egistration for an event

Submit with visa application

- Account statement (optional) – visa application

This can help the Canadian Government to understand if you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Canada.

Included details:

1) Bank name and contact

2) This allows us to contact your bank or financial institution with questions.

3) Proof it is your account

4) Your name and address on the statement show that the account is yours.

5) Account details

6) At least 6 months of account details, including balances, helps us understand your financial situation.

Submit with visa application

- Identity document

Acceptable documents:

1) passports (regular, official or diplomatic) from most countries (see exceptions below)

2) alien’s passport for stateless persons

3) US Permit to Re-Enter (Form I-327)

4) US Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571)

5) other refugee travel documents for non-citizens

Unacceptable documents:

1) any passport issued by Somalia

2) non-machine readable passports issued by the Czech Republic

3) temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa

4) provisional passports issued by Venezuela

Required documents(Submit with visa application):

1) A clear colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you'll use to travel to Canada.

2) If you have a passport, you must provide a copy of the page that shows your birth date and country of origin, and any pages with stamps, visas or markings

If you have a travel document, it must be issued by a government and include your:

a) name

b) date of birth

c) document number

d) citizenship or residency status

e) photo, and

f) expiry date (if applicable)

- Use of a representative (IMM 5476) (required) - if applicable

Family members who apply on behalf of the applicant or third parties need to complete this form.

Submit with visa application

- Authority to release personal information to a designated individual (IMM 5475) (optional) – visa application

Use this form if you want to allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to release your personal information to someone you choose.

The person you choose will be able to get information on your case file, such as the status of your application.

Submit with visa application

- Family information (IMM 5645) (required) – visa application

Each applicant 18 years or older must complete this form. A completed IMM 5645 form.

Submit with visa application.

- Minor children (required) – visa application (if applicable)

You may need to show

1) a letter that authorizes the minor child to travel to Canada, and

2) other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on if the minor child travels alone or not

Submit with visa application

Show border services officer when you arrive in Canada

Step 3: Apply online

To apply online, you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and a valid credit or debit card.

Read the instruction guide before you complete your application. As an online applicant, you can ignore steps 3 and 4 of the guide (paying the fees and submitting your application).

If you’re applying for the first time, you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise you may experience delays.

You can applying online through following link.

And use this link for more instructions for applying.

Who can’t apply online for a visitor visa

You must apply on paper if you’re using one of the following travel documents from a visa-exempt country:

-alien’s passport for stateless persons

-other refugee travel document for non-citizens

Read more about entry requirements by country or territory.

Step 4: Pay the fees

There are two types of fees:

- an application processing fee;

- a biometric fee.

Application fee 

1. Visitor visa (including super visa) - per person

Single or multiple entry temporary resident visa - 100$

2. Visitor visa – per family (1 fee per family of 5 or more people)

3. Single or multiple entry temporary resident visa;maximum fee for a family of 5 or more people applying at the same time and place - 500$

4. Transit visa - no fee

Biometrics

You may need to give your biometrics depending on what you plan to do in Canada.

- To visit Canada as a tourist only

You don’t need to give your biometrics if you plan to visit only.

- To study or work in Canada

You need to give your biometrics if you’re between 14 and 79 years old and you apply for a study or work permit.

If you plan to study for 6 months or less, you don’t need a study permit and you don’t need to give biometrics.

If you’re a lawful U.S. permanent resident with a valid green card, you don’t need to give biometrics to only visit Canada.

- For online or paper applications

You can only give your biometrics after you get a letter from us that tells you what to do. To get this letter, pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application.

If you apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)

- You need to book an appointment in advance to give your biometrics.

- You can give your biometrics when you submit a paper application at a VAC, if you booked an appointment.

- If you decide to apply online at a VAC, you’ll have to wait to get the letter that tells you that you need to give biometrics.

- Once you have this letter, you can return to the VAC to give your biometrics.

- If you’re applying for the first time, you need to give your biometrics (unless you’re exempt).

- If you’ve given your biometrics before as part of an application for a visitor visa or study or work permit, your biometrics are probably still valid.

Find out if your biometrics are still valid and when they expire by using the Check Status tool.

If they’re still valid, you don’t have to give your biometrics again.

Steps to give your biometrics

1. Pay the biometric fee

You must pay the biometric fee when you submit your application, or you may experience delays.

Exception: There is no fee to give biometrics for a transit visa.

2. Get the biometric instruction letter

After you pay the biometric fee, you’ll get a letter confirming that you need to give your biometrics and telling you where you can go.

You need to bring this letter when you give your biometrics.

You also need to bring your valid passport.

3. Go to an official biometric collection site

You must give your biometrics in person.

You need to make an appointment to give your biometrics. Book your appointment as soon as you get your biometric instruction letter.

Due to high demand for biometric appointments in Europe, we are extending some applicants’ deadlines to give biometrics.

Biometrics fee:

- Individual applicant: CAD $85

- Families applying at the same time: maximum total fee of CAD $170

- Groups of 3 or more performing artists and their staff who apply for work permits at the same time: maximum total fee of $CAD 255

Find a biometrics collection site near you.

You enter Canada

If you pass the identity check, health assessment, and meet the entry requirements, the border services officer may stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. You’re normally allowed to stay in Canada for up to 6 months.

In some cases, the officer may limit or extend your time in Canada, depending on the purpose of your visit. Ask questions if you’re not sure about something.

You won’t be allowed into Canada if you give false or incomplete information.

The officer must be convinced that:                      

- you’re eligible for entry into Canada

- you’ll leave Canada at the end of your approved length of stay