After applying for a Canada eTA

The processing stage

In the majority of instances, you should get an email within a couple of minutes after you submitted your application. Under certain circumstances, however, a request could take a few days to process. If your application is one of these, you should get an email response within 72 hours after submitting your application. This will explain clearly what steps you should take next.

If you do not receive a timely response, check your junk email folder in case your spam filter blocked our system’s automated emails.

You are provided with your eTA

Once your eTA has been approved, you will receive an email notification. This will include your eTA number.

Make sure you store this number in a safe place should you wish to confirm the status of your eTA later, or contact us about something else.

Should your email address change after you have submitted an eTA application, you will have to update the information online. It can be done via this web form.

Make sure your passport number is correct

Make 100 per cent sure that the passport number mentioned in the eTA approval email is exactly the same as the number in your passport. If there is any discrepancy, you will have to apply again, this time using the correct passport number.

If you provided the wrong passport number in your application, you might not be allowed to board your flight to Canada.

• Worst case scenario: you only discover at the airport that you made a mistake with your passport number.
• Your only option then is to submit a new eTA application.
• Depending on your particular set of circumstances, it might not be possible to issue you with an eTA at such short notice.

Before you arrive in Canada

Please note that the eTA you receive is connected to the passport number you entered in your application. During the check-in process for your flight to Canada, you will have to present this passport. There is no need to print out any particular document.

Your passport will be scanned by the airline personnel to confirm that your eTA is valid. Without one, you will not be allowed to board the flight.

Upon arriving in Canada

Identity check.

Although a valid eTA will enable you to board the flight to Canada, once you arrive in the country checks will be carried out to confirm that you are in fact the same individual who received approval to travel to Canada.

If you arrive in Canada at any of the country’s 10 main airports

• At the airport will be a primary inspection kiosk where your fingerprints will be verified automatically.
• The electronic system will also verify your identity against the data that was gathered when your application was sent in.

If you arrive in Canada via one of the smaller airports or any land port of entry

Your fingerprints could also be checked again should you be flagged for a secondary inspection. In this case, a border services offices will check your fingerprints using a fingerprint verification device.

Keep your documents in an easily accessible place

Upon your arrival in Canada, an officer from the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) will meet you. He or she will request to view your passport and other travel documents.

Minor kids

If you have children below the age of 18 please note that, as far as entry requirements are concerned, they must meet the same criteria as adults and have all the appropriate documents. Depending on whether such a child is accompanied by an adult, or travelling alone, the BSO has the right to ask that they present additional documents

Passport inspection upon arrival in Canada

Should you meet all the entry requirements and pass the identity check, the border services officer can proceed to stamp your passport. He or she will also inform you how long you will be allowed to stay in Canada. This period is normally not longer than six months.

Depending on the circumstances, the officer could extend or limit your stay in Canada to cover the intended purpose of your stay. This is the time to ask questions if you are uncertain about anything.

Note that you will not be permitted to enter Canada if you provide fake or incomplete information. You will have to convince the CBSA officer that:

• You meet all the requirements to enter Canada.
• You intend to leave the country when your approved stay comes to an end.

If you do not comply with the conditions of your eTA or other status document, you will be requested to leave Canada. The majority of individuals who are asked to leave the country have the right to request a fair hearing where this decision will be reviewed.