Canada eTA: New 2026 Rules for Indonesia and Malaysia

A Canada eTA is now available to some citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia under new travel rules announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The change started on 2026/05/26 at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Eligible Indonesian and Malaysian citizens can now apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a visitor visa when they fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport.

Travellers should read the new rule carefully. Canada has not removed the visitor visa requirement for every citizen of Indonesia or Malaysia. Instead, IRCC has added these 2 countries to a special group of visa-required countries whose citizens may qualify for an eTA under specific conditions.

This article explains who may benefit, who still needs a Temporary Resident Visa, why the mode of travel matters, and what travellers should check before booking a flight.

What IRCC announced

IRCC announced a change to visa requirements for eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia. The department connected the change to Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific engagement, trade relationships, tourism, and business ties.

Under the new rule, some Indonesian and Malaysian citizens may apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa. This option applies only when they travel to Canada by air or transit through a Canadian airport.

This wording matters. Indonesia and Malaysia still appear on the list of visa-required countries. However, IRCC now allows some citizens from these countries to use the same eTA option that already applies to select visa-required nationals who meet extra conditions.

Who may qualify for a Canada eTA?

A citizen of Indonesia or Malaysia may qualify for a Canada eTA if they meet all of the following requirements:

1. They hold a valid passport from Indonesia or Malaysia.
2. They plan to come to Canada for a temporary stay, normally up to 6 months.
3. They fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport.
4. They have held a Canadian visitor visa, also called a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), in the past 10 years, or they currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa.

The U.S. visa rule needs careful attention. IRCC says the U.S. non-immigrant visa must remain valid on the day the person applies for the eTA. The U.S. visa does not need to remain valid on the day the person travels to Canada.

The Canadian TRV rule also needs careful attention. The traveller does not need to hold a valid Canadian TRV today. A Canadian visitor visa from the past 10 years may support eTA eligibility in Canada, even if that TRV has expired.

Who still needs a visitor visa?

Many citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia still need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. A traveller needs a TRV if they do not meet every eTA condition.

For example, an Indonesian or Malaysian citizen needs a visitor visa if they have never held a Canadian TRV in the past 10 years and do not currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. They also need a visitor visa if they intend to enter Canada by land or sea.

This includes travel by car, bus, train, boat, or cruise ship. The Canada eTA option does not help those travellers, even if they otherwise meet the prior Canadian visa or U.S. visa conditions.

Why air travel matters for a Canada eTA

The eTA system supports air travel to Canada. Airlines check eTA information before a traveller boards a flight to Canada. For this reason, IRCC limits this special Canada eTA option to people flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport.

A person who plans to cross from the United States into Canada by car does not use an eTA for that entry. That person needs a visitor visa unless another exemption applies.

Mixed travel plans can create problems. For example, someone may fly to the United States, drive to Canada, and later fly out of Canada. In that situation, the traveller should review the route carefully before choosing between a TRV and an eTA. A visitor visa often offers more flexibility to travellers who plan to use air, land, and sea routes on a single trip.

What happens if you already have a valid TRV?

People who already hold a valid Canadian visitor visa can continue to use it until it expires. They do not need an eTA to fly to Canada as long as their TRV remains valid.

This point can help many travellers avoid unnecessary applications. If your Canadian visa remains valid, you may travel with it, subject to the usual airline checks and port-of-entry examinations.

However, review your passport details. A physical visa counterfoil in an expired passport may still help you travel if you also carry your new, valid passport and your identity details match. An eTA works differently. IRCC links an eTA toa singlee passport. If you get a new passport after you receive an eTA, you need to apply for a new eTA.

What a Canada eTA does not do

A Canada eTA does not guarantee entry to Canada. It helps an eligible person board a flight to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport. It does not replace examination at the port of entry.

CBSA officers still assess travellers when they arrive. They may ask about the purpose of travel, length of stay, funds, ties outside Canada, prior immigration history, and admissibility. A traveller may still face refusal at the port of entry if they do not satisfy the officer.

Applicants should also avoid treating an eTA as permission to work or study. It only addresses travel authorization for air travel. It does not create status in Canada beyond what an officer authorizes at the port of entry.

Work permits, study permits, and eTAs.

The change does not remove the need for a work permit or study permit. If an Indonesian or Malaysian citizen wants to work or study in Canada, they must still qualify for the proper permit unless a narrow exemption applies.

A work permit or study permit also does not replace a travel document. Foreign workers and students usually need a valid passport and, depending on nationality and travel route, a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada.

Therefore, a person should separate 2 questions. First, which document allows me to travel to Canada? Second, which document allows me to work, study, or remain in Canada? The answer may differ.

Canada eTA examples for Indonesian and Malaysian travellers

Example 1: A Malaysian citizen with a recent Canadian TRV

A Malaysian citizen received a Canadian visitor visa in 2021. The visa has now expired. She wants to fly to Toronto for a 2-week family visit. She may qualify for a Canada eTA because she held a Canadian TRV in the past 10 years and plans to travel by air.

Example 2: An Indonesian citizen with a valid U.S. visitor visa

An Indonesian citizen holds a valid U.S. B1/B2 visa. He wants to fly to Vancouver for business meetings. He may qualify for a Canada eTA if his U.S. visa remains valid on the day he applies for the eTA.

Example 3: A traveller entering Canada by car

A Malaysian citizen holds a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. He plans to fly to Seattle and drive to Vancouver. He still needs a Canadian visitor visa for the land entry to Canada. The eTA option does not cover this route.

Example 4: A family with different histories

An Indonesian parent held a Canadian TRV in the past 10 years, but the child has never held a Canadian TRV and does not hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. The parent may qualify for an eTA, but the child may still need a visitor visa. Families should review each person separately.

What should travellers do now?

Travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia should take the following steps before making travel plans:

1. Confirm their citizenship and passport validity.
2. Check whether they held a Canadian TRV in the past 10 years.
3. Check whether they currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.
4. Confirm whether they will enter Canada by air, land, or sea.
5. Review whether they need a work permit, study permit, or another immigration document.
6. Keep evidence of the old Canadian TRV or the current U.S. visa when travelling.
7. Apply early, especially if IRCC asks for additional documents.

The eTA application costs $7 CAD. IRCC often approves eTA applications within minutes, but some applicants may need to submit additional documents. Those cases can take longer.

Travellers should also use the official Government of Canada website. Many third-party websites charge extra fees or create confusion. The official eTA process costs $7 CAD.

Final thoughts

The Canada eTA rule for Indonesia and Malaysia offers a useful option for some travellers. It may help people who have already passed Canadian or U.S. screening avoid a full visitor visa application when they fly to Canada.

However, the change has limits. It does not remove the visitor visa requirement for everyone. It does not apply to land or sea travel. It does not guarantee entry. It does not replace a work permit or study permit.

The safest reading remains narrow. Eligible Indonesian and Malaysian citizens may apply for an eTA only when they meet the prior Canadian TRV or current U.S. non-immigrant visa condition and travel to Canada by air.

If your travel history, passport, U.S. visa, Canadian visa, or route creates uncertainty, consider booking a consultation session with me. A short review can help you choose the correct document before you spend money on tickets or submit the wrong application.

You may book an appointment with me for formal immigration advice about your specific situation: https://book.settler.ca.

Related internal links to add

• Travel to Canada Visa-Free: 15 Countries Eligible for eTA: https://www.settler.ca/english/travel-to-canada-visa-free-15-countries-eligible-for-eta/
• Expired Passport and Valid Canadian Visas: https://www.settler.ca/english/expired-passport-and-valid-canadian-visas/
• Visa Requirements for Foreign Nationals Entering Canada: https://www.settler.ca/english/visa-requirements-for-foreign-nationals-entering-canada/
• Do I Need a Visitor Visa to Visit Canada?: https://www.settler.ca/english/do-i-need-visa-to-canada/
• What is an eTA?: https://www.settler.ca/english/what-is-an-eta-electronic-travel-authorization/

Sources

• IRCC news release, 2026/05/25: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/05/canada-strengthens-indo-pacific-ties-through-changes-to-visa-requirements-for-eligible-travellers-from-indonesia-and-malaysia.html
• IRCC eTA eligibility for select visa-required countries: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/eligibility/eta-x.html
• IRCC entry requirements by country: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html
• IRCC eTA application page: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html