--- title: "Canada Visa-free stay (6 months) requirements 2026" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/visa-free-180d/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Canada # Canada Visa-free stay (6 months) **First stay:** 6 mo Visa-free visitor stay of up to 6 months (eTA by air) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 6 mo (Normally up to six months at a time; the border services officer sets the length of stay.) - **Who can apply:** 64 nationalities (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.) ## Key facts Visa-free stay (6 months) is a long-stay route for Canada. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** CAD 7 ≈ $5 - **First stay:** 6 mo ## Cost **Government fees: CAD 7 ≈ $5** - CAD 7 (≈ $5) Fee for the electronic travel authorization (eTA); not charged to US citizens or when arriving by land or sea. ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Only for passports from 64 countries ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - US national, or citizen of an eTA-required visa-exempt country or territory listed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. - Israel needs a national passport, Romania an electronic passport, Hong Kong a Hong Kong SAR passport, Taiwan an ordinary passport with ID number. - 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. #### What you must show - An eTA costs CAD 7 (≈ $5). #### Documents - A valid passport, to which the eTA is electronically linked. #### Steps 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. A border services officer decides on entry whether you are admissible; an eTA does not guarantee entry. #### After you arrive - 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. ## What happens at day 183 How Canada decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **6 months at first** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in a calendar year** Day count used in the CRA residency decision flow (page wording: fewer than 183 days versus more than 182 days throughout the year); significant ties and treaty residence are assessed together with it. - **At least 183 days in a tax year** A person who sojourned in Canada in the year for 183 days or more is deemed resident for the whole year (Income Tax Act s.250(1)(a)) - **Foreign-source income:** Worldwide income for residents; Canadian-source income for non-residents [All tax rules for Canada](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 **Full official text** 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. (sources 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. (sources 3, 2) #### Requirements - US national, or citizen of an eTA-required visa-exempt country or territory listed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. (source 1) - Israel needs a national passport, Romania an electronic passport, Hong Kong a Hong Kong SAR passport, Taiwan an ordinary passport with ID number. (source 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. (source 1) - An eTA costs CAD 7 (≈ $5). (sources 3, 2) - A valid passport, to which the eTA is electronically linked. (sources 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. (sources 2, 1) - A border services officer decides on entry whether you are admissible; an eTA does not guarantee entry. (source 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. (source 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](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-07-31 2. [Find out about electronic travel authorization (eTA)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/facts.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Electronic travel authorization (eTA): How to apply](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 ## Visa-free stay (6 months) and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Visa-free stay (6 months) | – | 6 mo | – | | [Visa-free stay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/visa-free-180d/) Mexico | – | 6 mo | No | | [Andean free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/free-movement-can/) Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes | | [Free movement by treaty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/free-movement-brazil-uruguay/) Brazil | – | – | – | | [Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/argentina/free-movement-mercosur/) Argentina | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Visa-free stay (6 months)? 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. ### How long can I stay on the Visa-free stay (6 months)? Normally up to six months at a time; the border services officer sets the length of stay. ### Who can apply for the Visa-free stay (6 months)? 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. ## Similar visas elsewhere [🇺🇾 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/uruguay/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇨🇱 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/chile/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇵🇪 Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/peru/visa-free-183d/) [🇦🇬 CARICOM free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/free-movement-caricom/) [🇧🇸 Visa-free stay (8 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/the-bahamas/visa-free-240d/) [🇧🇿 CARICOM free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/belize/free-movement-caricom/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [What you need to enter Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Find out about electronic travel authorization (eTA)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/facts.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Electronic travel authorization (eTA): How to apply](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-10 Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.