An eTA is passport-linked authorization for eligible air travel.
Canadian citizens cannot use an eTA and normally fly with a Canadian passport. Permanent residents cannot use a visitor visa or eTA and need a valid PR card or PRTD for commercial travel. An eTA never gives work or study authorization and never guarantees entry.
Ordinary eTA travellers
Citizens of visa-exempt countries generally need an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents follow separate exemptions and document rules.
Selected visa-required countries
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
All 3 special conditions
A citizen of one of those selected countries must have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa, be coming temporarily—normally up to 6 months—and fly to or transit through Canada using that eligible passport.
Validity and passport
Usually up to 5 years or passport expiry. Travel with the same passport used in the application; a new passport requires a new eTA.
Land or sea
A selected visa-required national still needs a visitor visa to arrive by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship. Most ordinary visa-exempt travellers do not need an eTA for land/sea arrival.
Application
Use only the official Government of Canada form. The fee is CAN$7; most decisions arrive within minutes, but additional-document cases may take several days.
Approval allows travel; CBSA makes the entry and stay decision.
A valid multiple-entry visa may remain usable after one trip, but every arrival is a new examination and every stay has its own expiry date.
Port-of-entry review
The officer may ask about purpose, funds, accommodation, return plan, health, criminal history, work/study intentions and goods.
Authorized stay
Most visitors are admitted for up to 6 months. A stamp or visitor record can set a shorter or longer date, and passport expiry can shorten the stay.
No stamp
Current IRCC visitor-visa guidance says the deadline is generally the earliest of 6 months after entry, passport expiry and, where applicable, biometrics expiry. Keep entry evidence and confirm the date for the individual traveller.
Carry-on evidence
Keep passport, visa/eTA, invitation, itinerary, insurance, funds and purpose evidence accessible—not in checked luggage.
Official sources & application
The practical answer is in this guide; use these links to verify live changes and apply officially.
Ghasedak explains the eligibility, evidence, process and important cautions in plain language. Because laws, forms, fees and filing methods can change, also check the live official instructions on the day you submit. This is general information, not individual legal advice.