Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): What you need to know

If you plan to visit Canada by air, you may need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Find out how easy it is to apply online. Learn how to get your eTA before you book your flight to Canada.

This video is also available in HD on YouTube where you can leave a comment, share it on your social network or embed it into your site.

Transcript: “Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): What you need to know”

Video length: 2:13 minutes

Animated video

Pleasant, upbeat music plays. A red suitcase is shown. Various articles of clothing appear in the suitcase, one by one. Suitcase closes by itself.

Narrator: When you’re planning to travel, you know that being prepared is important. It’s the best way to travel — stress free.

Canada flag sticker appears on the suitcase.

Text displays: “A change you should know about”.

Narrator: To make sure your visit to Canada goes as smoothly as possible, here is a change you should know about if you are travelling by air.

A tablet appears in front of the suitcase. Text: “eTA – Electronic Travel Authorization”, appears on its screen against a background of an airplane in flight.

Text displays: “You may need an eTA before you fly to or transit through Canada.”

Narrator: It’s called eTA—electronic travel authorization. You may need an eTA before you board your flight to Canada, even if you are just transiting through the country. Exceptions include American citizens and visitors with a valid visa.

Text displayed beside tablet: “Exceptions include American citizens and visitors with a valid visa”.

Narrator: It’s best to get your eTA before you book your flight to Canada. You may not be able to fly without it.

Text displayed beside tablet: “Get your eTA before you book your flight To Canada”.

Text displayed on the tablet: “eTA – Electronic Travel Authorization – Apply”.

Text displayed beside tablet: “Simple – inexpensive – a few minutes to complete”.

Narrator: Getting your eTA is a simple, inexpensive, online process, which takes just a few minutes to complete.

A passport, a credit card and an envelope appear around the tablet.

Narrator: All you need is your passport, a credit card, an email address and access to the Internet.

A wireless keyboard appears in front of the tablet. A padlock appears beside the tablet.

Text displayed beside the tablet: “Safe and secure”.

Narrator: The process is completely safe and secure.

A finger taps the “Apply” button on the tablet. Examples of information are entered into form fields on the tablet, and a finger taps the submit button.

Text displayed on the tablet: “The fee is only CAN$7.”

Narrator: You will enter basic personal information like your name, passport number, email address, answer a few simple questions and submit your application. The fee is only CAN$7. In most cases, the eTA will be granted within minutes of applying.

A ticking clock is shown on the tablet. The clock turns into a checkmark on a green background.

Two thin slots in the suitcase open. A keyboard and tablet slide into the suitcase.

The suitcase is then shown on a conveyor belt.

Text displays above the suitcase: “Your eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires”.

Narrator: Once approved, your eTA is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

A world globe is shown. An airplane and flight lines are shown converging on Canada.

Narrator: This means you can fly to Canada without reapplying so long as your eTA and passport remain valid.

An airplane is shown on the ground and a hand holding a passport approaches the plane. A line comes off the passport and points to the text “eTA”.

Narrator: To make sure that you can board your flight to Canada, you will need to travel with the passport you used to apply for your eTA as the eTA is electronically linked to it. If in doubt, you can always check the status of your eTA on Canada.ca/eTA.

Text appears on the tablet against a sky background: “Canada.ca/eTA”.

To find out more, including who needs an eTA and who doesn’t, visit Canada.ca/eTA. See you in Canada!

An airplane takes off over the text: “Canada.ca/eTA”.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada corporate signature followed by the Canada wordmark are shown on a white background.

Fade to black.