Updated
GL-E-02
Glossary · Statuses, passports, travel
eTA - the electronic entry authorisation you get before you fly
Electronic Travel Authorization — an electronic travel authorization obtained online before departure for visa-free entry.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- Electronic Travel Authorization — an electronic authorisation to travel
- How
- Obtained online in advance, before departure
- What for
- Visa-free entry to countries that have introduced an eTA
- Keep in mind
- It is an authorisation, not a full visa
- How to use it
- Apply in advance, not on the day of departure
02 / In plain words
What eTA means
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.
A case from practice
A traveller with a strong passport is heading to Canada, confident of “visa-free access”, and almost forgets the eTA. We remind them: without the electronic authorisation they will not be allowed on the flight. They obtain the eTA online in advance in a couple of minutes — and the trip goes without problems.
Where an eTA comes up
- Visa-free travel with a preliminary authorisation
- Entry to Canada, the EU (ETIAS) and other countries
- Assessing a passport’s travel conditions
- Planning business and tourist trips
- Comparing the real mobility of passports
- Checking requirements before departure
03 / What it covers
What matters about an eTA
How it works
- An online form
- Linked to the passport
- Before departure
Conditions
- Passport details
- A small fee
- Validity and number of trips
Differences
- It is not a visa
- Not a guarantee of entry
- Not a VOA at the border
Keep in mind
- Apply in advance
- More and more countries
- Without it you will not be allowed to board
04 / How it works
How to obtain an eTA
Check whether an eTA is required
We check the country's requirements for your passport.
Fill in the online form
Passport details, contacts, trip information.
Pay the fee and submit
The fee is paid by card on the official website.
Receive the authorisation
The answer arrives by email and is linked to the passport.
The trip
At boarding and at the border the authorisation is checked against the passport.
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01What it is
An authorisation, not a visa
An online form; the authorisation is linked to the passport. The border officer still decides on entry.
02When to apply
Before departure
Without a valid authorisation the airline may refuse boarding. It cannot be obtained at the border.
03Where it applies
Canada, the UK, the EU and others
Canada has long required an eTA, the UK introduced its ETA, the EU is launching ETIAS. The list keeps growing.
04Validity
Several trips
The authorisation is valid for a set period and several entries, but only with the passport it was issued for.
Common mistakes
Leaving it until the day of departure
Apply early: the answer is usually quick, but extra details are sometimes requested.
Confusing an eTA with a visa on arrival
An eTA is obtained online before the trip, a visa on arrival at the border. They are different regimes.
Making a mistake in passport details
Check the number and dates against the passport: an authorisation with an error is not valid for travel.
Travelling on a new passport with an old eTA
After replacing the passport, get a new authorisation: it is linked to the document number.
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Before a trip, check whether the country requires an eTA for your passport and obtain it in advance online — not on the day of departure. Enter the passport details carefully: the authorisation is linked to that passport. Take the validity period and number of trips into account. Then visa-free entry with a preliminary authorisation goes smoothly, with no risk of missing the flight.
What we do for you. We give you the full picture of travel conditions for your passport, including electronic authorisations such as the eTA and ETIAS. That way you will not face an unpleasant surprise at the airport and you understand the document’s real freedom of movement — with all the formalities included, not just the loud word “visa-free”.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
An Electronic Travel Authorization — an electronic authorisation to travel obtained online before departure for visa-free entry to countries that have introduced it.
No. It is a simplified authorisation, not a full visa, and it does not guarantee entry — the final decision is made by border control.
An eTA is obtained in advance online before the trip; a visa on arrival, at the border on entry. They are different mechanisms and must not be confused.
More and more: Canada, for example, has long used the eTA, and the European Union is launching the ETIAS system. The current requirements should be checked before a trip.
Passport details, basic information about the trip and a small fee. Processing is usually quick; the authorisation is linked to a specific passport.
It is risky: approval is usually quick but not instant. It is better to apply in advance — without a valid eTA you may not be allowed to board.
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