Travelling to Canada: Know the differences between a Visitor Visa and an eTA

Ready to embark on your journey to Canada? The Canadian Visas are slightly different than other popular study destinations. For instance, in other destinations, a student visa is usually sufficient but in the case of Canada, a student will need a Study permit, a letter of introduction and an ETA or a Visitor visa depending on their nationality. 

After you have completed all the study application requirements and are admitted to a Designated Learning Institute in Canada, you can apply for a study permit. Once you are granted a study permit, the government also provides you with an ETA or a Visitor Visa depending on your nationality along with a letter of introduction to show to a border service officer after you arrive in Canada.

Now, let’s dive into the details about the difference between an eTA and a Visitor Visa.

What is an eta and Visitor Visa?

eTA

eTA or an Electronic Travel Authorization is an entry requirement for foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air who are exempted from carrying a visa

An eTA doesn’t guarantee your entry to Canada. Therefore, you should always carry your passport and other documents when you arrive at the Canadian border after which you will have to convince the border services officer that you are eligible for entry into Canada.

Visitor Visa

A visitor visa is also known as a temporary resident visa. It is an official document that the government sticks to your passport. It signifies that you meet the requirements that are essential to enter Canada. The processing time for this Visa varies from one country to another. You may also need to provide biometrics along with your application. The application fees start from CAD 100.

Who needs an eTA?

• You require an eTA if you are a Visa-exempt foreign national belonging to the list of countries that require an eTA to fly or transit through any Canadian airport.  
• You might be eligible to apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa if your country is listed on one of the select visa-required countries and if you are travelling to Canada by air.

You will need a visitor visa, not an eTA if you are entering Canada by car, bus, train or boat.

 Given below are the categories that are exempted from eTA:

• Canadian permanent residents don’t need an eTA or a visitor visa but do need to travel with a valid permanent resident card or travel document.
• Former residents of Canada who were once permanent residents but no longer live in Canada will always hold a PR status. They do not need an eTA to travel to Canada.
• Foreign Nationals with official Canadian Documents
• Foreign Nations under specific circumstances such as French citizens who live in Saint Pierre and Miquelon flying directly to Canada, or foreign nationals who have proper documents to enter the United States.
• Travel and official representatives such as flight crew, civil aviation inspectors, accident investigators, and Diplomats accredited by the Government of Canada.
• You do not need an eTA if your country is one of the visa-required countries, including stateless individuals, and alien passport holders. You will however need a visitor visa.

Who needs a Visitor Visa?

• A worker has to meet Canada’s entry requirements to secure a work permit. Similarly, a student who wishes to study in Canada must meet the necessary requirements to obtain a study permit. However, a work or study permit is not a visa. Thus, you may also need a visitor visa or an eTA to enter Canada.  
• In case you have to leave Canada and return and own a work or study permit and if you are a native citizen of any country that belongs to the visa required list then you need to make sure that your visitor visa is still valid.
• If you are qualified to work or study without a permit you will be considered a visitor to Canada, in such cases you must meet the requirements for travellers from the country of your citizenship.
• If you happen to be a parent or a grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you might be eligible for a super visa. It allows you to stay in Canada for 5 years at a time. Moreover, it’s a visa that offers you the opportunity to visit Canada multiple times for a period of up to 10 years.

How long can you stay with an eTA and with a Visitor Visa?

eTA

An eTA is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for up to five years or until your passport expires. It entirely depends on whichever comes first. Once you get a new passport after an expiration you will have to secure a new eTA.

With a proper and valid eTA, you can travel to Canada as often as you require. However, the stay has to be short, not lasting more than six months. Furthermore, you will not require an eTA for travelling within the Canadian borders.

Visitor Visa

The visitor visa allows you to stay in Canada for up to 6 months. You may be allowed to stay for less or more than 6 months if the border services officer allows it. The date by which you need to depart from Canada will be entered on your passport and your visitor record will show the date you need to leave the country.

In case you do not get a stamp on your passport you can reside in the country for 6 months until the date you arrive in Canada or until the date your passport expires, entirely depending on whichever comes first. If you need a stamp you can choose to ask a border service for one. If you choose to use the primary inspection kiosk you can ask the border officer to put up a stamp after you complete using the kiosk.

What are the basic requirements to enter Canada?

To travel to Canada, you will have to meet the below-mentioned requirements:

1. Secure a passport or a valid travel document.
2. Own either a valid eTA or a visitor visa.
3. Have a good health
4. Have no records of crime or immigration-related convictions
5. Provide valid proof to the border services officers that you have the following to take you back to your home:

• A job
• A home
• Financial assets or family

1. Provide sufficient and convincing assurance to a border services officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit.
2. Have sufficient funds for your stay. However, the amount of money you require may depend on several factors such as the duration of your stay and where you will be staying.
3. You can be inadmissible if you have records of involvement in criminal activity, involved in organized crime or involved with human rights violations.
4. You may also be inadmissible for security, financial or health reasons.

Understanding the difference between an eTA and a Visitor Visa can help you deal with what to expect and deal effectively with either process entirely.

FAQs

1.  What are the acceptable methods of payment for my eTA?

       You will have to pay CAD 7 using any of the below-mentioned methods of payment: –

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• a prepaid Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Visa Debit
• Debit Mastercard
• UnionPay
• JCB Card

2. What are the basic requirements to secure a visitor visa?

         You must meet the below-mentioned basic requirements to get a visitor visa:

• Own a valid travel document similar to a passport.
• You must be in good health
• You must not have any criminal convictions
• You must convince the Canadian immigration authorities that you are leaving the country at the end of your visit and not planning to overstay illegally.
• Have sufficient funds to sustain your stay in Canada?

3.  What can you do with a Canadian visitor visa?

• You can enter and stay in Canada, giving you a temporary legal status to live as well as travel anywhere you want in Canada.
• You can meet potential employers and look for suitable work in Canada but be advised that you cannot work under a visitor visa.
• Under some rare exceptions, you can join a short-term course in Canada.
• In case you would like to extend your visit, you can apply for an extension.
• You can carry out certain business activities as long as you steer clear of the Canadian labour market.

4.  Is an eTA the same as a visitor visa?

      This depends on the following factors:

• The type of travel document you carry with you
• The country that issued the travel document to you
• Your nationality
• How you plan to travel to Canada

A visitor visa is needed if you want to stay in Canada beyond six months, work or study there, and arrive at a land or port of entry other than air travel. You will also need a visitor visa if you are travelling to Canada by car, bus, train, or boat, including a cruise ship.

An eTA is required if you are foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air who do not normally need a visa to travel to Canada. or a citizens of these visa-required countries.