On June 6, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the addition of 13 countries to the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program. Travellers from select countries now have a faster and more affordable option to visit Canada. Those who have previously held a Canadian visa within the last 10 years or currently possess a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for the eTA program instead of a traditional visa when traveling to Canada by air. The eTA process, completed through a simple online application, drastically reduces waiting times from weeks to just minutes.
Immediate implementation allows eligible travelers from the following countries to take advantage of this program:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Costa Rica
- Morocco
- Panama
- Philippines
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
In a subsequent announcement, Canada’s High Commissioner, Lilian Chatterjee, revealed on social media that Dominica and Grenada have been included in Canada’s CAN+ Programme (visa expedition program), further expanding the benefits of streamlined travel for individuals from these nations.
