Canada’s Immigration Service Launches Digital Visa Pilot
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is piloting a digital visa system for Moroccan visitors, aiming to modernize the visa application process and expand to more nationalities.
On 27 November, the Canadian government announced the introduction of digital visas, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) leading the modernization effort. This initiative is being tested during a limited pilot phase, and availability will not extend to all eligible visa applicants. Read on for the key details of this new pilot program.
Source: Government of Canada canada.ca/fr/services/immigration-citoyennete
Moroccan citizens can test the new digital visa
During the first phase of the pilot, digital visa issuance is limited to Moroccan citizens who already hold a visitor visa. These travelers will receive a digital visa that will be linked to the physical visa sticker already in their passport. Ultimately, IRCC will use feedback from this group to expand the program to additional nationalities.
Moroccan passport holders without a visitor visa must follow the standard process. They will need to contact their nearest Canadian embassy, which may require an in-person visit for visa submission. The digital visa is not an option without a prior physical visa.
The launch of this pilot reflects a broader push by Canadian immigration services to simplify procedures and digitize the traditional visa application process entirely.
Visitor visa or ETA: what’s the difference?
Travelers from visa-exempt countries may apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online. European citizens, for example, are currently eligible for an ETA. Recently, Canadian authorities also introduced visa exemptions for Qatari nationals, who may now obtain an ETA.
A total of 15 nationalities—including Moroccan citizens—may qualify for an ETA if they held a Canadian visitor visa in the past decade or possess a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.
Eligibility for an ETA can be checked using the official IRCC website: IRCC ETA information. Alternatively, our agency, which specializes in assisting with ETA applications, is available to support your request. Visit visamundi.co for further guidance.
Nationals from countries that do not qualify for an ETA and who are not visa-exempt must obtain a visitor visa via a Canadian embassy. Under this pilot, digital visas are issued only to travelers who already have a visitor visa sticker in their passport.
En tant que chargée de relation client, mes missions sont la gestion et le suivi des demandes de visas. Je reste informée des actualités concernant les nouvelles formalités de voyage ainsi que les spécificités des nouveaux visas.
