Canada’s immigration services have announced 13 countries that no longer require a Temporary Residence Visa to visit the country, making things more efficient now.
Travellers can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) during their travel by air. An eTA is a digital travel document required by all visa-exempt travellers. Eligible travellers under this new rule are those who have either held a Canadian visa in the last ten years or are currently holding a valid non-immigrant visa for the United States.
Announcing the visa-free countries during his visit to Winnipeg, Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), said, “This exciting development means that more individuals from around the world can now embark on unforgettable adventures, explore our diverse landscapes, reunite with family and friends, and immerse themselves in our vibrant culture without the hurdle of visa requirements,” in a press report.
Fraser also mentioned how this expansion would aid Canada with the increase in travel, tourism and other economic benefits making the global bonds between these countries stronger.
More about the countries that are eligible for visa-free travel
Here are the countries:
- Philippines
- Morocco
- Panama
- Antigua and Barbuda
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Argentina
- Costa Rica
- Uruguay
- Seychelles
- Thailand
Results from similar programmes in the past
After a similar pilot programme’s success in Brazil in 2017, visitors from Brazil travelling to Canada increased by 40 percent. This helped in reducing IRCC’s caseload in the Sao Paulo office by 60 percent to work on more complex applications.
About eTA and visa exempt countries
Currently, over 50 countries can enter Canada without a visa. Most countries require an eTA if they are arriving by air costing CAD 7 (SGD 7).
Citizens from the United States do not require an eTA or a visa to enter Canada unless they are moving for work or study. However, the nationals of countries that are not exempted from obtaining a visa, must apply for a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV), also known as a visitor visa to enter Canada. A TRV allows an individual to visit Canada for a period of six months (although this may differ for some foreign nationals).
(Hero and feature image credit: AlpakaVideo/Shutterstock)
(conversion done at the time of writing)
Related: South Korea To Allow Online Permit-Free Entry For Visitors From 22 Countries; Including Singapore
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