Since the end of 2016, European, Australian and other eligible nationalities can travel to Canada without a visa, for a tourist or business trip of up to 6 months. This visa exemption requires, in return, the possession of an electronic travel authorization (AVE)equivalent to theESTA for the USA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
This authorization, electronically linked to the beneficiary's biometric passport, can be requested directly online via our services. You won't need to go to the Canadian consulate in your country of residence to obtain your Canadian e-visa.
Do I need a visa to go to Canada?
The ETA for Canada is mainly intended for European nationals, although other nationalities can also apply. A partnership has been set up between Canada and the Schengen area to enable Canadians to travel to the Schengen zone with just a valid passport. In exchange, European nationals can enter Canada without a visa. If this is your case, all you need to do is present an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to the Canadian authorities when you arrive in Canada.
Often mistakenly referred to as an e-Visa, the Canadian AVE is electronically linked to your biometric passport. You must therefore ensure that your your passport must still be valid at least 6 months after the date of your departure from Canada. The AVE for Canada is valid for 5 yearsand will enable you to several stays of up to 6 months in Canada. However, if the validity date of your passport expires between your various stays in Canada, you will need to apply for a new Canadian e-visa.
The Canadian AVE is mandatory for tourist or business stays of less than 6 months in Canada, but also for transiting the international zone of a Canadian airport for a few hours. It is also mandatory for minors, under the same conditions as for adults(consular fees to be paid, data to be transmitted).
However, the AVE for Canada only applies to air travellers. If you arrive in Canada by boat, you won't need a Canadian e-visa for a short-term tourist stay. You must, however, be a national of an AVE-eligible country.
To apply for a Canadian ETA, you must be a national of one of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United States (lawful permanent residents), Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Singapore, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.
What types of visas are available to enter Canada?
If you do not hold a European passport, or if you are a European national and wish to stay in Canada for more than 6 months (for work or study), you will not be eligible for the AVE. You'll need to apply for a regular Canada visa, to be attached to your passport, from the Canadian embassy in your country of residence. The different types of visa for entering Canada are as follows:
- Work visa ;
- Visa for studies ;
- Transit visa ;
- Tourist visa ;
- Business visa.
What documents do I need to obtain a Canadian AVE?
The only way to obtain a Canadian AVE is to apply online. The application process is completely paperless. You won't have to go to an embassy to obtain your AVE for Canada.
You can apply for a Canadian e-visa by filling in the application form provided. Before you do so, please make sure you have the following supporting documents, the only ones required to finalize your application:
- A scan of your passport's identity page with at least 2 blank pages, valid for the duration of your stay in Canada.
To complete the application form, you will need to enter the following information, most of which corresponds to the data already on your biometric passport:
- Information about your civil status (surname, first name, date of birth, marital status, nationality);
- Information about your stay in Canada (if you have already applied for an AVE or a visa to travel to Canada, your previous visa number, if applicable) ;
- Information about your employment status (job, name and address of employer, years of seniority).
All this information is required to finalize your Canadian e-visa application. We will then forward your application form to the Canadian authorities, so that you can receive your AVE as soon as possible.
How much does an ETA cost for Canada?
The Canadian ETA is offered at an affordable price compared to the cost of a conventional visa for Canada. The cost of the Canadian ETA depends mainly on the consular fees charged by the Canadian government. In addition to these consular fees (around €5), we charge a service fee for processing your file (checking supporting documents, entering the application online) and transmitting it to the Canadian authorities (follow-up and management). You should therefore expect to pay around €35 to obtain your Canadian AVE.
How long does it take to obtain an AVE for Canada?
The time it takes to obtain a Canadian ETA depends on how long it takes the Canadian immigration authorities to process your application. This time is generally very short, as the entire procedure is paperless. Under normal processing conditions, you can obtain your Canadian ETA in just 48 hours. However, processing time may be longer if your application is received on a weekend or public holiday. We therefore advise you to apply for your Canadian ETA at least one week before your actual arrival in the country.
Can I extend my stay in Canada with an AVE?
You can extend your stay in Canada directly with the Canadian authorities. However, we recommend that you contact the relevant authorities at least 30 days before your AVE expires.
