Canada Visa-free stay (6 months)

Citizens of visa-exempt countries can visit Canada without a visitor visa and normally stay up to six months at a time. Air travellers need an eTA; US citizens need neither a visa nor an eTA. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

• A fee of CAD 7 (≈ $5) · Fee for the electronic travel authorization (eTA); not charged to US citizens or when arriving by land or sea. ^{3 2}

Requirements

• US national, or citizen of an eTA-required visa-exempt country or territory listed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. ¹
• Israel needs a national passport, Romania an electronic passport, Hong Kong a Hong Kong SAR passport, Taiwan an ordinary passport with ID number. ¹
• Citizens of 17 visa-required countries, among them Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, the Philippines and Thailand, may be eligible to fly to Canada on an eTA instead of a visa if they meet certain requirements; by car, bus, train or boat they need a visitor visa. ¹
• An eTA costs CAD 7 (≈ $5). ^{3 2}
• A valid passport, to which the eTA is electronically linked. ^{2 1}
• Apply for the eTA online before flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport; no eTA is needed when arriving by car, bus, train or boat. ^{2 1}
• A border services officer decides on entry whether you are admissible; an eTA does not guarantee entry. ²
• An eTA is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers short stays normally up to six months at a time. ²

Stay

• Normally up to six months at a time; the border services officer sets the length of stay.
• Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
• Visa validity: 60 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
• Visitor stay up to 6 months: Per entry; eTA valid up to five years or until the passport expires.

Nationality

US citizens and citizens of the visa-exempt countries and territories that need an eTA to fly to Canada. Some citizens of 17 visa-required countries may fly on an eTA instead of a visa under conditions; they are not in the list. Open to: United States, Andorra, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, United Kingdom, BM, AI, VG, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, MS, PN, SH, TC, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, South Korea, Romania, WS, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, VA.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. What you need to enter Canada · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-07-31
2. Find out about electronic travel authorization (eTA) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10
3. Electronic travel authorization (eTA): How to apply · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10