Canada eTA & visa guide
Do I need a visa to visit Toronto?
Citizens of eTA-eligible countries (including the UK, EU, Australia, and Japan) flying into Canada need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which costs CAD $7, is valid for 5 years, and is applied for online at canada.ca. US citizens need only a valid passport for air travel, no eTA or visa required. Some other countries still require a full visitor visa.
Three different entry requirements, depending on your citizenship
Canada’s entry requirements split into three categories depending on your passport, and it’s genuinely important to know which one applies to you well before booking flights — arriving without the correct authorization can mean being denied boarding at your departure airport, not just an inconvenience on arrival. This guide covers the eTA (the requirement for most visitors), the visitor visa (required for some countries), and what US citizens specifically need.
| eTA cost | CAD $7, online at canada.ca only |
| eTA validity | 5 years or until passport expires |
| Approval time | Usually minutes; officially up to 72 hours |
| US citizens | No eTA needed for air travel — passport only |
| Applies to | Air travel only, not land/sea entry |
The eTA: what it is and who needs it
The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a mandatory entry requirement for visitors from eTA-eligible countries flying into Canada — this includes the UK, all EU member states, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and a substantial list of other visa-exempt countries. It is not required for travel by land or sea (driving in from the US, for instance), only for air travel.
The eTA costs CAD $7, is applied for entirely online at the official canada.ca website (be cautious of third-party sites that charge considerably more for the same service — the official government site is the only place you should submit payment), and is typically approved within minutes, though officially can take up to 72 hours in some cases. It’s electronically linked to your passport, so there’s no physical document or stamp to carry — border officials check it against your passport number when you check in for your flight and again on arrival.
The eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and permits multiple entries during that validity window — genuinely convenient if you’re planning more than one Canada trip within that period, since you don’t need to reapply for each visit.
Applying for the eTA: what you need
The application requires your passport details, a credit or debit card for the $7 fee, and basic personal and travel information. Most applications are approved within minutes of submission, though the Canadian government recommends applying at least 72 hours before travel to allow time for the rare cases requiring additional review. Apply well before booking non-refundable flights if there’s any uncertainty about your eligibility, though the vast majority of eligible travelers are approved without issue.
US citizens: no eTA needed for air travel
US citizens do not need an eTA for air travel to Canada — a valid US passport is sufficient. This is a genuinely common point of confusion, since the eTA requirement applies broadly to most other visa-exempt nationalities but specifically excludes US citizens for air travel. US citizens driving into Canada also don’t need an eTA, though a valid passport (or approved alternative like a NEXUS card) is still required at land border crossings.
Countries that still require a full visitor visa
Not every country is eTA-eligible — a number of nationalities still require a full Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), a more involved application process than the eTA, typically requiring supporting documents (proof of funds, travel itinerary, ties to your home country) and processing times measured in weeks rather than minutes. Check canada.ca’s current country-by-country requirements well before planning your trip if you’re uncertain which category applies to your passport, since visa processing timelines can meaningfully affect how far in advance you need to begin your application.
ArriveCAN and the Advance CBSA Declaration
As of 2026, ArriveCAN is not required for entry to Canada — the mandatory pre-arrival app requirement introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic has been discontinued. The Advance CBSA Declaration is available as a voluntary option for travelers who want to submit customs declarations in advance and potentially speed up their in-person processing at the border, but it’s not mandatory, and skipping it doesn’t create any additional friction beyond the standard in-person declaration process at arrival.
What border officials ask on arrival
Regardless of eTA, visa, or US-passport status, all visitors go through a standard Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) interview on arrival, covering the purpose of your visit, planned length of stay, and sometimes proof of onward travel or sufficient funds. Having your accommodation booking, a rough itinerary, and return flight details readily accessible (on your phone or printed) speeds this process along, though it’s rarely an extensive interrogation for typical tourist visits with a clear, straightforward purpose.
Vaccination and health requirements
As of July 2026, there are no mandatory COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements for entry to Canada, though this is worth verifying closer to your actual travel date via canada.ca, since health-related entry policies have historically been subject to change with limited notice during periods of public health concern.
Duration of stay permitted
Most visitors entering under an eTA or as a visa-exempt US citizen are typically granted up to 6 months stay at the discretion of the border officer, noted on your entry stamp or electronic record — genuinely more than enough for any itinerary covered on this site, which tends toward days or weeks rather than months. If you’re planning an unusually extended stay, confirm the specific duration granted at entry, since it can occasionally be shorter than the maximum at the officer’s discretion.
What happens if your eTA application is declined
A small percentage of eTA applications are referred for additional review rather than instantly approved, sometimes resulting in a request for a full visa application instead. This is uncommon for straightforward tourist applications from eligible countries but worth knowing about if you have specific factors (a previous visa refusal, certain criminal history flags, or incomplete application information) that might trigger additional scrutiny — applying well in advance of your travel dates gives you time to address this without disrupting non-refundable bookings.
Traveling with children: extra documentation
If you’re traveling with minors, particularly if only one parent or a non-parent guardian is accompanying the child, Canadian border officials sometimes ask for additional documentation — a consent letter from the non-traveling parent, or custody documentation in more complex family situations. This isn’t universally requested, but having a signed consent letter on hand (templates are widely available online and don’t need to be notarized in most cases, though notarization adds credibility) removes any risk of delay or complication at the border. This applies regardless of eTA, visa, or US-passport status, since it’s a Canadian child-protection measure rather than an immigration document specifically.
Customs and duty-free allowances
Beyond entry authorization, visitors should know Canada’s duty-free personal allowances for goods like alcohol and tobacco brought into the country — these are modest (roughly 1.5 liters of wine or 1.14 liters of spirits, and limited tobacco quantities) and exceeding them means declaring the excess and potentially paying duty. Most tourists carrying personal luggage for a standard vacation don’t come close to these limits, but it’s worth checking current allowances on the CBSA website if you’re planning to bring in specific goods, particularly alcohol purchased duty-free on your outbound flight.
NEXUS and other trusted traveler programs
Travelers who frequently cross the Canada-US border, including day-trippers visiting Niagara Falls’ USA side, may find a NEXUS card worth the application process and fee — it provides expedited border crossing at land, air, and marine ports between Canada and the US, and can substitute for a passport at land crossings for eligible cardholders. For a single Toronto visit with one or two Niagara border crossings, it’s generally not worth the multi-week application and interview process, but frequent visitors to the region should consider it.
Travel insurance and Canada’s healthcare system
Canada’s public healthcare system does not cover visitors, and medical costs for non-residents can be substantial if you require treatment during your trip — travel insurance covering medical emergencies is genuinely worth arranging before departure regardless of your eTA or visa status, since it’s a separate consideration from entry authorization but equally important for a worry-free trip. Some credit cards include a degree of travel medical coverage automatically; check your specific card’s terms rather than assuming coverage applies.
What to sort out once your entry documents are ready
Getting the eTA or visa sorted is only the first step of pre-trip logistics. Once that’s settled, most visitors flying into Pearson still need to work out the trip from the airport into the city — our Pearson Airport to downtown guide covers the UP Express and other options in full.
Staying connected on arrival matters too, and the eSIM and connectivity in Canada guide covers the practical options for data without hunting for a local SIM card on your first day. Budget-conscious travelers should also look at the Toronto budget travel guide for realistic daily-cost planning once entry logistics are behind you, and the safety tips for Toronto guide rounds out the practical pre-trip checklist.
Frequently asked questions about Canada’s eTA and visa requirements
How much does the Canada eTA cost?
CAD $7, paid entirely online at the official canada.ca website — avoid third-party sites charging more for the same service.
Do US citizens need an eTA to fly to Canada?
No — US citizens need only a valid US passport for air travel to Canada, no eTA or visa required.
How long is the Canada eTA valid?
5 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and it permits multiple entries during that period.
How long does eTA approval take?
Most applications are approved within minutes, though officially up to 72 hours is possible — apply a few days before travel if there’s any uncertainty.
Is ArriveCAN still required to enter Canada in 2026?
No — ArriveCAN is no longer a mandatory requirement. The Advance CBSA Declaration is available as a voluntary option instead.
Do I need an eTA if I’m driving into Canada from the US?
No — the eTA is only required for air travel. Driving or arriving by sea has different requirements, generally just a valid passport for US citizens or the appropriate visa/entry document for other nationalities.
Do I need extra documents to travel with children to Canada?
Sometimes — if only one parent or a non-parent guardian is traveling with a minor, a signed consent letter from the other parent is a reasonable precaution to avoid delays at the border, even though it’s not universally requested.
Does Canada’s healthcare system cover visitors?
No — Canada’s public healthcare system does not cover non-residents, making travel medical insurance a genuinely important separate consideration from your entry authorization.
Is a NEXUS card worth getting for a single Toronto trip?
Generally not, unless your itinerary includes multiple Canada-US border crossings — the application process is lengthy, making it more worthwhile for frequent cross-border travelers than a single vacation.
