Do I Need an eTA if I Have a Visa for Canada

eTA vs. Canada visa

The majority of visitors must have a Canadian visa in order to enter the country. For visitors, students, those who want to work in Canada, and people who want to settle there, there are various kinds of Canada visas.

For stays of up to six months intended for tourists and pleasure, nationals of a few countries are free from the need for a visa to enter Canada.

For visitors from nations that do not require visas, the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for Canada serves as a digital visa waiver.

The person can take advantage of their visa exemption and bypass the more time-consuming and difficult procedure of acquiring a visa by just registering online.

An eTA or a visa, but not both, is sufficient for entry into Canada.

eTA vs. Canada Visa:Processing Time

Usually, the Canadian eTA is handled quickly. With rare exceptions, applications are handled in 3 business days. Most applications are accepted within a day.

For an urgent Canada eTA, there is also an express processing service.

Furthermore, completing the eTA application online takes less time than applying for a Canadian visa.

Foreign nationals asking for a Canadian visa might need to submit more supporting documents than those applying for an eTA, which only needs a valid passport. They must also participate in a visa interview and submit their biometric data at a Canadian embassy or consulate.

This means that obtaining a visa often requires a longer application process than obtaining an eTA.

eTA vs. Canada Visa :Validity

Starting from the day it was granted, the eTA for Canada is valid for five years. A new eTA will be needed if the passport registered in the online application expires because it is electronically connected to that passport.

Throughout the time of validity, the Canadian eTA is valid for repeated entries without a visa. A visa-free visit may last up to six months. Anyone who intends to stay in Canada for a period of time greater than six months must apply for a visa.

Until the expiration of the passport, visitor visas are valid for ten years. They typically allow repeated entrances and each stay is typically limited to six months, just like the eTA. However, depending on the circumstances, visa terms may change.

eTA vs. Canada Visa: Online Application

Simple completion and submission of the Canada eTA application form is all that is required to acquire the Electronic Travel Authorization.

Both online and paper applications for Canadian visas are accepted.

There are more steps to the process for the visa, though. When the application is approved, the traveler must then take the following actions:

• Passport submission (either in person or by mail)
• Participate in a face-to-face interview at a Canadian embassy
• provide their biometrics (picture and fingerprints)

Should I submit an eTA or visa application for Canada?

Two Factors determine whether to apply for a visa or an eTA:

• The traveler’s nationality
• The reason for traveling to Canada.

Any tourist who intends to go to Canada or who wants to work there needs to get the necessary visas and permissions.

If international travelers fit the criteria for a Canada eTA, they can apply more quickly for an electronic travel authorization for trips that are leisure, touristic, or involve visiting relatives.

Travelers may enter Canada using a valid Canadian visa if they already have one.

Do I Need a Visa or eTA to Transit Through Canada

A visa or an eTA is required for all international passengers passing through a Canadian airport. Depending on the person’s nationality, a different kind of authorization may be needed.

Citizens of nations without visa requirements must apply for the Canada eTA. The eTA will still be valid if the person obtained it within the last five years and has not since obtained a new passport.

eTA applicants from nations that aren’t allowed to do so must instead apply for a Canadian transit visa.