The Canada eTA application form requires applicants to complete a series of background questions to determine if a traveller has any travel, immigration, criminal or medical history that would disqualify using an eTA.

If the answer to any of the background questions here is YES, you should provide as much information as possible to assist with processing. Should your application not be approved shortly after submission, it is likely you will be contacted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to clarify your answers. If your application is denied, and you feel this is because of your answers to the background questions, then you may be able to appeal IRCC’s decision or reapply with amended or updated information.

Question 1

“Have you ever been refused a visa or permit, denied entry to, or ordered to leave Canada or any other country/territory?”

If you have ever been denied a permit or visa, refused entry to, or instructed to leave Canada, or any other country to territory, you must answer YES to this question. In that case, for every refusal you have to name the country that denied you a permit or visa, and provide the reason or reasons that country or territory gave for its decision.

Question 2

“Have you ever committed, been arrested for, been charged with or convicted of any criminal offence in any country/territory?”

Choose YES if at any time in the past you have committed, been placed under arrest for, faced charges, or been convicted of any type of criminal offence in Canada or any other country or territory. If you choose YES, for every arrest, charge or conviction, you should list the name of the city and the country. You should also state the month and year, what type of offence it was, and the sentence you received.

Question 3

“In the past two years, were you diagnosed with tuberculosis or have you been in close contact with a person with tuberculosis?”

In this section choose YES if, during the last two years, you have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, or if you have been in close contact with someone who suffers from this disease. If you choose YES, a second question will appear on the screen:

Question 3(a)

“Is your contact with tuberculosis the result of being a health care worker?”

Choose YES if the reason why you came into contact with tuberculosis was because you were a healthcare worker. If you choose YES, another question will appear on the screen.

Question 3(b)

“Have you ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis?”

Here you should choose YES if you have in the past been diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis.

Question 4

“Do you have one of these conditions?”

The last question on the form is regarding personal health. The question will ask if you suffer from any of the following conditions. If so, you will need to select the relevant conditions from the drop-down menu:

• Untreated syphilis
• Untreated drug or alcohol addiction
• Untreated mental health conditions involving psychosis

If you do not suffer from any of the above conditions, choose NONE OF THE ABOVE.

Conclusion

The background questions on the Canada eTA application are used to identify immigration and security risks. Typically, answering YES to any of these questions may result in additional processing of your eTA. Thus, you may be contact by IRCC for additional information regarding the answers you provided.