The Government of Canada has confirmed that foreigners applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) must pay CAD $7 (approximately N6,710.74) per applicant. This fee applies to nationals of visa-exempt countries who plan to travel to Canada by air and is a mandatory step before boarding a flight.
Who Needs the Canada eTA and What It Costs
The eTA is required for citizens of countries that do not need a traditional Canadian visa but still require prior electronic approval to enter Canada by air. Eligible nationals include citizens of the United Kingdom, Australia, and several European nations. However, United States citizens are entirely exempt from the eTA requirement.
According to the federal government of Canada, the eTA fee is set at CAD $7 per applicant. While this amount is relatively modest, the authorisation remains a compulsory requirement that travellers from eligible countries cannot bypass before flying to Canada.
Validity and Application Process for the eTA
Once approved, the eTA is electronically linked to the applicant's passport and remains valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. A single authorisation permits multiple trips to Canada within that period, provided each stay does not exceed six months.
The application process is conducted entirely online through the Government of Canada's official platform. Applicants must have a valid passport, a working email address, and a credit or debit card to pay the CAD $7 fee. The form also requires personal information such as travel history, employment details, and answers to background eligibility questions.
Approval Time and Eligible Countries
In most cases, the eTA is approved within minutes of submission, though some applications may take several days if additional documentation is requested. Canadian authorities advise travellers to apply before booking flights to avoid any disruption to travel plans.
Canada has listed 17 countries whose citizens may apply for an eTA instead of a full visa when travelling by air. The list includes new entries Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as African countries such as Morocco and Seychelles. For eligible travellers, the eTA simplifies visiting Canada, while citizens of countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa must still follow the traditional visa process.
