As readers will be aware, effective March 15, 2016, travellers to Canada from non-visa countries will require an ‘Electronic Travel Authorization’ (eTA). There are some exceptions to this requirement, including US citizens (not permanent residents) and people transiting through Canada. However, for anyone not fitting into one of the exemptions, an eTA will be required. (Please see http://bit.ly/1diawgD for details.)
Last week, the government announced that the eTA program will be expanded to include certain low risk travellers from: Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico, and Romania. People from these countries otherwise require a visa. To qualify for use of an eTA rather than a visa, an applicant would have had to have held a Canadian visa during the last 10 years, or have a current valid US non-immigrant visa.
Further expansion of the eTA program may be under consideration. We will pass on all relevant information via ImmPulse™ as it becomes available.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.