Canada eTA During the Leniency Period
People who travel to or transit through Canada by air must obtain an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before boarding their airplane. Some groups are exempt from an eTA, such as;
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents,
- US citizens,
- French citizens who live in St. Pierre and Miquelon and travel to Canada directly from there, or
- those people who need a visitor’s visa (TRV) to travel to Canada.
During the leniency period, or rather between March 15, 2016, to September 29, 2016, eTA-required travellers may board their flight without an eTA. The Border Services Officer (BSO) will issue those people an eTA at the time of entry if they meet all the conditions for entering Canada.
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) processes the majority of eTA requests within a few minutes after application. However, there are some situations where it takes considerably more time. Hence It is a good idea to apply for your eTA at the earliest possible to avoid any delays in your itinerary.
Another important point is that your eTA is normally valid up to your passport validity or up to five years after the issue date, whichever comes first.
If you find submitting your personal information to a foreign government concerning, then you may consider hiring an authorized representative such as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).
We will publish some articles about eTA soon so sign up to our newsletter or contact us for more information. You may also book an appointment for official immigration advice.
Other posts:
- What is an eTA? electronic Travel Authorization
- Who is eTA exempt?
- Definition of spouse for the purpose of immigration to Canada
- Definition of spousal sponsor
- How to move to Canada? General Info
- How to move to Canada? Federal Programs
- How to move to Canada? Provincial Programs
- How to move to Canada? Express Entry Visa
- Some immigration acronyms
Disclaimer:
“This article provides information of a general nature only. It may no longer be current. It does not provide legal advice nor should it be relied upon. If you have specific legal questions you should consult a lawyer. If you are looking for official immigration advice contact us.”
If you are interested in visiting or immigrating to Canada, please complete our free assessment form.
There is no fee for this assessment. We will review your information and contact you if we identify a suitable immigration pathway or other meaningful option for you.
If you would prefer direct advice about your specific situation, you may book a consultation session. This is a paid service and includes formal immigration advice from a licensed Canadian immigration practitioner.
Al Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Instructor, Ashton College, Immigration Consulting Program
Author of 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada and Inadmissibility to Canada for Human Rights Violations
Complete Our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in Your Language: