Travel Documents Needed Between Canada and the US

Traveling US from Canada

Before entering the US, Canadian visitors must apply for a visa or travel authorization. There is no combined visa for the USA and Canada, and it is not feasible to enter the US with a Canadian eTA or visa.

The United States, like Canada, offers a visa waiver application that enables passport holders from a number of countries  to enter without a visa.

Passport holders who can enter Canada without a visa will probably also be able to enter the United States without a visa because there is a large overlap between the countries eligible for visa-free travel to the North American countries.

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, must be registered by citizens of countries that the United States has granted visa waivers to. ESTA prescreens foreign nationals entering the US with the intention of enhancing security and border management

It is advised to submit an ESTA application at least 72 hours in advance. The application can be submitted from any location with an internet connection because it is entirely online. Tourists who are crossing the border from Canada to the US can finish the procedure a few days beforehand.

Can I use ESTA for the US at any ports of entry?

For foreigners, flying is frequently the quickest and most practical method of traveling between Canada and the US. The majority of flights last under two hours, and some of the most popular routes are:

• 1 hour 25 minutes from Montreal to New York
• 1 hour 35 minutes from Toronto to Boston
• 3 hours 15 minutes from Calgary to Los Angeles
• 1 hour 34 minutes from Ottawa to Washington

Some people may choose to drive across the land border between the US and Canada, but this is typically only feasible when traveling to towns near the border on either side.

In order to enter the US via land, all travelers must first register with ESTA. This takes the role of the outdated I-94W form, simplifying the procedure for visitors from abroad arriving at land border crossings.

Returning to Canada  After Visiting the US

One frequent query from visitors is if they can use the original eTA to return to Canada after visiting the US.

The Canada eTA is valid for 5 years and allows for multiple entries. Until the travel authorization or the passport expires (whichever comes first), the same travel authorization may be used to enter Canada. This is presuming that all Canada eTA standards are still met.

Visitors from abroad who have an authorized eTA are permitted to stay in Canada for up to 6 months, including any time spent waiting in line at a Canadian airport.

Foreigners in Canada who want to stay longer than the amount of time allowed under the eTA can do so by contacting the country’s immigration officials to request a visa waiver extension. If the eTA cannot be extended, a visa will be necessary to stay in the nation.

Traveling to Alaska from Canada

The northernmost US state, Alaska, is a distinctive place to visit. By traveling over the land border or by short flight, foreigners in Canada can take advantage of the opportunity to visit Alaska.

People from nations that do not require visas can travel from Canada to Alaska using an ESTA that has been issued because Alaska is a part of the United States.

Alaska can be reached in one of the best ways possible by Canadian cruise. The requirement for an ESTA in order to exit a ship in Alaska should be made clear to sea passengers.

Traveling to Canada from the US 

Some travelers begin their journey in the United States before continuing north, as opposed to entering Canada first. Visitors should be informed that US travel authorizations, such as an ESTA or a US visa, are not accepted in Canada.

Citizens of nations with visa waivers must instead apply online for the Canadian eTA, which is the country’s equivalent of the ESTA. The eTA application process is simple, and it may be done online just a few days before departure for the US.

Tourists can use the urgent eTA service for guaranteed 1-hour processing if they forget to apply for the Canadian visa waiver.

Similar to the US, Canada’s eTA criteria include holding a current biometric passport issued by a country that is recognized.

The applicant’s passport is scanned at the Canadian port of entry after the travel authorization has been granted and is associated with it. Printing and carrying a paper copy of the permit is not necessary in order to cross the border.

Can I leave the US on a visa-exempt trip, then come back as a tourist?

Visitors using ESTA who are flying from the US to Canada do not need to be concerned about violating the visa waiver. The US ESTA is a multiple-entry form, just like the eTA for Canada. Foreign visitors are permitted to leave the US to travel to Canada and then return with the same authorization.

If neither the ESTA nor the passport has expired, foreign nationals who are traveling from the USA to Canada and then back to the USA do not need to reapply. ESTAs are valid for two years after they are issued.

A foreign visitor is permitted to stay in the US for a maximum of 180 days during one visit, not counting time spent traveling through the airport. To remain longer than this, you need a visa.

If I have a US visa, do I need a visa for Canada?

Even if you already have a visa for the US, you still need to apply for a visa or an eTA before visiting Canada. If you are flying to Canada by air, you only need to apply for an eTA if your nationality is exempt from visa requirements.