On March 15, 2016, The Canadian government has officially introduced Electronic Travel Authorization [ETA] for eligible travelers that don’t need to obtain a temporary resident visa [TRV] to enter Canada.
Similar to the United States’ ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorization], the ETA follows suit when it comes to digital verification and pre-approval for admission into the country for qualifying travelers.
A digital verification system that confirms a foreign national’s eligibility to travel to Canada. Similar in function to a visa, the main benefit of the ETA is that it expedites the travel of eligible individuals to Canada. Qualifying travels can apply and be approved to travel online in advance of their trip, while inadmissible travelers are screened immediately, saving the government the hassle and expense of sending them back upon arrival.
The ETA system is only required for foreign nationals traveling to Canada by air from countries that are visa-exempt. This includes certain European countries, as well as travelers from New Zealand and Australia.
Individuals in possession of a visa to enter the United States on a flight bound for that country in transit through Canada, where the sole purpose of the flight stopping in Canada is for purpose of refueling,
You can file an application for the ETA online on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website by submitting your personal information. This includes the applicant’s name, date and place of birth, gender, address, nationality, passport/travel document information. There is a processing fee of CAD $7.00. Once received, ETA will be valid for five years from the day on which it is issued to the applicant or until the earliest of the following days, if they occur before the end of that period.
If you are not eligible to apply via the ETA system, you can always apply for the Quebec Investor visa and get Canada citizenship by investment.