ARCHIVED – Notice – Inviting the public to provide input on Electronic Travel Authorization

December 6, 2013 — Canada is taking another step toward improving border security with the release of a Notice of Intent for the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) requirement.

When the eTA program is implemented in 2015, citizens from countries other than the United States that do not require a visa to enter Canada will need to obtain online authorization before flying to Canada.

As eTA will apply to close to three million international air travellers who visit Canada every year, the government will be working closely with stakeholders, including the air industry as well as the travel and tourism sectors, to inform travellers of this new requirement. Toward this goal, the Notice will allow the public to give their initial input and feedback about the eTA requirement before the Regulations are pre-published.

The application process for the eTA will be quick, easy and low-cost. For a small fee, travellers will apply online and provide basic biographic information similar to what is currently collected when they arrive in Canada. In the vast majority of cases, the eTA will be granted within minutes of applying. As well, by having been pre-screened, eTA travellers could enjoy faster processing upon arrival in Canada.

The eTA is a key deliverable under the Beyond the Border Action Plan and is similar to the United States’ successful Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

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