Canada plans to expand eTA to more nationalities
Canada’s Budget 2023 aims to streamline immigration and boost tourism by expanding its eTA system to more countries, increasing international visitor revenues by CAD 50 million over four years.
Canada launched its Budget 2023 initiative with the goal of simplifying immigration and invigorating the country’s tourism industry. Among the proposals under consideration is expanding eligibility for the eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization, known in France as Autorisation de Voyage Electronique or AVE) to additional nationalities.
The eTA is a pre-screening requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to Canada. It confirms a traveler’s admissibility before departure but is not a visa in itself.
To obtain an eTA, travelers must complete an online application, provide basic personal information, and meet eligibility requirements. The process is fast and costs CAD 7, excluding intermediary fees.
Currently, eTA eligibility applies largely to visa-exempt Western countries, with the Brazil exception—where Brazilians with a Canadian visitor visa issued in the past decade or a valid U.S. visa may also apply. Canada now plans to expand eligibility to more nationalities currently required to obtain a visa, with a new list of "low-risk" countries expected in the coming weeks.
By doing so, Canada aims to grow international-tourism revenue by CAD 50 million over four years. Further Budget 2023 details are available on the Government of Canada website.
Other immigration measures announced in Budget 2023 include:
a CAD 10 million, five-year investment to deploy biometric screening in citizenship applications to speed processing
streamlining and accelerating visitor visa applications while maintaining national security
maintaining federal support for legal aid in immigration and refugee matters, with a CAD 43.5 million allocation for 2023–24
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