eTA

In plain words

An eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a simplified entry authorisation that the traveller obtains online before departure. It is used by countries that formally grant visa-free access but want to “screen” arrivals in advance: the applicant fills in a form on a website, and the system issues an authorisation linked to the passport.

More and more countries are introducing such systems (Canada, for example, has long used the eTA, and the EU is launching its own system, ETIAS). Obtaining one is usually quick and inexpensive: passport details, basic information about the trip and a small fee are needed. The authorisation is valid for a set period and for several trips, but is linked to a specific passport.

It is important to understand the difference: an eTA is not a visa and not a guarantee of entry, but a preliminary authorisation; the final decision is made by border control. An eTA must also not be confused with a visa on arrival — it is obtained in advance online, not at the border. For holders of strong passports it is a familiar formality, but it must not be forgotten: without a valid eTA you may not be allowed to board the flight.

Where an eTA comes up

What matters about an eTA

How to obtain an eTA

1. 01Check whether an eTA is required
2. 02Fill in the online form
3. 03Pay the fee and submit
4. 04Receive the authorisation
5. 05The trip

What you need to know

• An eTA is an electronic travel authorisation obtained online
• It must be obtained in advance, before departure
• It applies in Canada, the EU (ETIAS) and other countries
• It is neither a visa nor a guarantee of entry
• Without a valid eTA you may not be allowed to board

Common mistakes

• ✕Leaving the application until the day of departure
• ✕Confusing an eTA with a visa or a visa on arrival
• ✕Assuming an eTA guarantees entry
• ✕Making a mistake in the passport details on the form
• ✕Not checking whether the country has introduced an eTA by the travel date

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