On June 6, 2023, Canada announced the addition of 13 countries to its electronic travel authorization (eTA) program.¹ Foreign nationals of these 13 countries who have either held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air for business or tourism.
The newly eligible countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Seychelles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The Canadian government has expanded the list of visa-free countries to facilitate travel for business and tourism purposes. The new measure will also help manage Canada’s application caseload, allowing the government to process visa applications more efficiently.
Eligible foreign nationals from the above-mentioned countries traveling to Canada by air for tourism or business will now be able to enter Canada without first obtaining a visa from a visa office, a process that can take several weeks or months. The foreign nationals from the 13 countries, however, are not eligible to apply for a work permit at the port of entry.
Eligibility
To qualify for visa-free travel, foreign nationals from the 13 eligible countries must have either held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.
These foreign nationals will need to obtain an eTA online prior to flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport. Costing C$7, eTAs are typically valid for up to 5 years or until the foreign national’s passport expires (whichever is sooner) and typically allow for stays of up to 180 days at a time.
KPMG INSIGHTS
Additional Considerations
Individuals who already hold a valid Canadian visa can continue to use it to travel to Canada. Those who are not eligible for an eTA, or who are travelling to Canada by means other than air (for example, by car, bus, train, or boat – including cruise ship), will still need a visitor visa.
Overall, Canada is expecting to receive 200,000 more visitors from the above-mentioned countries over the next year. Within a decade, Canada expects almost C$160 million in additional tourism revenue from these countries.
FOOTNOTE
1 See the June 6, 2023, announcement on Canada’s immigration website at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/06/eligible-travellers-from-13more-countries-now-qualify-for-visa-free-travel-to-canada.html
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Canada.
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