About one in ten people who contact GetETA do not actually need an eTA — and a few who think they need “just an eTA” actually need a visa. Four questions settle it.
1. Are you a Canadian citizen or permanent resident?
- Canadian citizen (including dual citizens): nothing. Fly on your Canadian passport. An eTA on your other passport will be refused.
- Permanent resident: nothing. Carry your valid PR card.
If neither — keep going. Lived in Canada for years on a foreign passport and not sure what you hold? Read this first — applying for an eTA you do not need can leave you stuck abroad for weeks.
2. What passport will you fly on?
| Your passport | Arriving by plane | Arriving by car, bus, train or ship |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Nothing — just the passport | Nothing |
| Visa-exempt country (most of Europe, UK, Australia, Japan and others) | eTA | Nothing — just the passport |
| Visa-required country | Visitor visa | Visitor visa |
The eTA is for air travel only. Driving in from the US? You do not need one.
3. Is your country in the “eTA only with conditions” group?
Some nationals (Brazil, Mexico and several others — the list changes) can use an eTA instead of a visa for flights only if they held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid US visa. If neither applies, it is a visitor visa. Countries get added to and removed from this group, so check before every trip. If an eTA is refused on eligibility grounds, see what a refusal means.
4. What are you coming for?
An eTA and a visitor visa both cover short visits: tourism, family, business meetings, transit — generally up to six months, as decided at the border.
You need a different permit if you plan to:
- Work — including remote work for a Canadian employer
- Study a program longer than six months
- Immigrate — an eTA or visa only lets you in as a visitor
One common trap: a US green card holder who is not a US citizen still needs an eTA (if visa-exempt by nationality) or a visa (if not). The green card alone is not enough for a flight.
Your answer
- Canadian citizen or PR → nothing (Canadian passport / PR card)
- US citizen → nothing (US passport)
- Visa-exempt passport, flying → eTA
- Visa-exempt passport, arriving by land or sea → nothing
- Visa-required passport, any way → visitor visa
- Conditional country with a past Canadian visa or current US visa, flying → eTA; otherwise → visa
Where GetETA fits
We help with the eTA line only. If the check above points you to a visa, an eTA application would be refused — and we will tell you so rather than take your money. If it points to “nothing”, you do not need us; enjoy the trip. If it points to an eTA and you would rather not wrestle with the form, that is what we do. Already applied and not sure it went through? A status check settles it in minutes. New passport since your last eTA? It does not transfer. Booking for the whole family? Read tickets first or eTA first.
Official information: eTA facts