What you need to enter Canada
What you need to travel to Canada will depend on
- your citizenship and nationality
- how you’re travelling (by air, land or sea)
- what documents you’re travelling with
You can also answer a few questions to find out what you need to enter Canada.
On this page
- US travellers
- Canadian travellers
- Dual citizens
- Travellers who need a visa
- Travellers who need an electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- Travellers who may be eligible for an eTA instead of a visa
- Travellers who don’t need a visa or an eTA
- Minor children
- Foreign workers and students
- Travellers visiting their children or grandchildren in Canada
US travellers
What you need to travel to Canada depends on whether you’re a US national or a US lawful permanent resident.
American citizens
It’s recommended that you always travel with a valid passport as it’s the only reliable and universally accepted travel and ID document.
If you don’t have a valid passport and aren’t travelling by air, you can also present identity documents that show your
- full name
- date of birth
- citizenship
If one document doesn’t include all of this information, you can use a combination of documents.
US lawful permanent residents
What you need to enter Canada as a US permanent resident depends on how you’re travelling.
Entering Canada by air
You must bring the following documents to Canada when travelling by air as a US lawful permanent resident:
- a valid passport from your country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document)
- a valid permanent resident (green) card (or equivalent valid proof of status in the US)
Entering Canada by land or water
If you’re entering Canada by land or water directly from the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, you only need to provide
- your valid permanent resident (green) card, or
- equivalent valid proof of status in the US
You don’t need to provide your passport.
Acceptable proof of status documents for US permanent residents
You need an official proof of status document as a permanent resident of the US, such as
- a valid permanent resident (green) card (Form I-551)
- a non-US passport with either
- a valid temporary I-551 stamp (also known as an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication [ADIT] stamp), or
- a temporary I-551 printed note (“Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year”) on an immigrant visa with a US Customs and Border Protection admission stamp
- an expired permanent resident (green) card (Form I-551) with either
- Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) or Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status), or
- Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [Green Card])
- a valid re-entry permit (Form I-327)
- Form I-94 with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp) and a passport-style photo
Canadian travellers
Canadian travellers don’t need a visa or an eTA to enter Canada. What you need depends on whether you’re a citizen or a permanent resident.
Canadian citizens
Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada by air. If you’re travelling by land or sea, you can use another identification document.
American-Canadian citizens can travel with a valid Canadian or US passport. If you’re travelling with a US passport, you’ll need to carry identification that shows your Canadian citizenship.
Canadian permanent residents
Canadian permanent residents need a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document when travelling to Canada by commercial vehicle (airplane, bus, boat or train).
If you’re travelling in a private vehicle, you can use your PR card or other documents to return to Canada. A private vehicle can be a car, truck, motorcycle or recreational vehicle that you own, borrow or rent.
Dual citizens
Most dual Canadian citizens need a Canadian passport to travel to or transit through Canada. Find out what documents you need based on your situation.
Travellers who need a visa
If you’re a citizen of any of the countries listed below, you need a valid visitor visa and a valid passport to visit or transit through Canada.
Visa-required countries
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda (Some citizens of Antigua and Barbuda may be eligible for an electronic travel authorization [eTA] if they meet certain requirements.)
- Argentina (Some citizens of Argentina may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil (Some citizens of Brazil may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon, Republic of
- Cabo Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China, People's Republic of
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Congo, Republic of
- Costa Rica, Republic of (Some citizens of Costa Rica may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia (Some citizens of Indonesia may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel (Travellers must have a valid Israeli “Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport”.)
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Korea, North
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Macao Special Administrative Region
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia (Some citizens of Malaysia may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Maldives Islands
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico (Some citizens of Mexico may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Micronesia, Fed. States
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco (Some citizens of Morocco may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama (Some citizens of Panama may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines (Some citizens of the Philippines may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Romania (holder of a non-electronic passport, such as a temporary passport)
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sao Tomé e Principe
- Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles (Some citizens of the Seychelles may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- St. Kitts and Nevis (Some citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- St. Lucia (Some citizens of St. Lucia may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines (St. Vincent) (Some citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Taiwan (Travellers must have a passport other than an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number.)
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand (Some citizens of Thailand may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago (Some citizens of Trinidad and Tobago may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uruguay (Some citizens of Uruguay may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.)
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Stateless individuals and those with a refugee travel document also need a visa to visit or transit through Canada.
You need your visitor visa to enter Canada by any method of travel, including by
- air, arriving at a Canadian airport
- car, train, bus or boat (including cruise ships)
You need to give your biometrics
In most cases, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) after you apply for a visitor visa.
Travellers who need an electronic travel authorization (eTA)
You may need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to visit or transit through Canada if you’re a citizen with a passport from any of the eTA-required countries listed below.
If you’re travelling by air
You need an eTA and a valid passport to board your flight to Canada if you’re a citizen of any of the countries listed below. You don’t need a visitor visa.
eTA-required countries
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- British citizen
- British national overseas
- British overseas citizen (re-admissible to the United Kingdom)
- British overseas territory citizen with citizenship through birth, descent, naturalization or registration in one of the British overseas territories of
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Island
- Saint Helena
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- British subject with a right of abode in the United Kingdom
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (must have a passport issued by Hong Kong SAR)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel (must have a national Israeli passport)
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea, Republic of
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania (electronic passport holders only)
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (must have an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number)
- United Arab Emirates
- Vatican City State (must have a passport or travel document issued by the Vatican)
If you’re travelling by land or sea
If you’re a citizen of an eTA-required country listed above and arriving by car, bus, train or boat (including a cruise ship), you don’t need an eTA to enter Canada. You still need a valid passport.
If you’re travelling by sea from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (excluding cruise ships)
You need an eTA to board your boat.
Travellers who may be eligible for an eTA instead of a visa
If you’re from one of the countries listed below, you may be eligible to apply for an eTA, instead of a visa, if you
- meet certain requirements
- are travelling by air
Eligible visa-required countries
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Panama
- Philippines
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
You need a valid visitor visa if you’re coming to Canada by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship (even if you’re not leaving the ship).
Travellers who don’t need a visa or an eTA
In most cases, you’ll need a visa or an eTA to travel to Canada.
You don’t need a visa or an eTA to travel to Canada if you are one of the following:
- a US national or permanent resident
- someone who has valid status in Canada (for example, visitor, student or worker) and are re-entering Canada after only visiting the US or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
- a French citizen who lives in and is flying directly from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
- a crew member who arrives by boat and wants to stay in Canada to work on that boat or another boat
- a passenger destined for or coming from the US on a flight that stops in Canada just to refuel and
- you have the proper documents to enter the US, or
- you were lawfully admitted to the US
- a passenger on a flight that makes an unscheduled stop in Canada
- transiting through a Canadian airport under the Transit Without a Visa or China Transit programs
- flight crew, a civil aviation inspector or an accident investigator who is or will be working while in Canada
- a member of the armed forces (not including the civilian component of the armed forces) of a country designated under the Visiting Forces Act coming to Canada to carry out official duties
- a diplomat with a diplomatic, consular or official acceptance issued by the Chief of Protocol of Global Affairs Canada in your passport
- seeking to enter or stay in Canada in either of these situations:
- as a crew member on an air transportation vehicle, or to become a member of that crew
- travelling through Canada after working or to work as a crew member on an air transportation vehicle, with a ticket to leave Canada within 24 hours of arriving
You need to give your biometrics
In most cases, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) after you apply for a visitor visa.
Find out who needs to give biometrics.
Minor children
Minor children under 18 must meet the same entry requirements as any other traveller to Canada. They may need to show additional documents, depending on their situation.
Foreign workers and students
If you’re a worker or student, you must also meet Canada’s entry requirements. A work permit or study permit is not a visa. In most cases, you’ll also need a valid visitor visa or an eTA to enter Canada.
You need to give your biometrics
In most cases, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) after you apply.
If you’re applying for your first study or work permit
If you need a visa or an eTA, we’ll issue it automatically once your application is approved.
When you travel to Canada, make sure you have
- your study or work permit approval (letter of introduction)
- a valid passport or travel document
- If you need a visa, you must travel with the passport that contains it.
- If you need an eTA and you’re flying to a Canadian airport, you must use the passport that you used to apply for your work or study permit.
You may need to show additional documents when you arrive in Canada. Find out what other documents you need as a study permit or work permit applicant.
If you already have a work or study permit
If you need a visa, make sure it’s still valid if you leave and plan to re-enter Canada.
If you need an eTA and you’re flying to a Canadian airport, make sure that your eTA is still valid and that you travel with the passport you used when you initially got your eTA.
You must travel with your
- valid study or work permit
- valid passport or travel document
- valid visa or eTA (if required)
If you’re eligible to work or study without a permit
If you’re eligible to work or study without a permit, you must meet the entry requirements for your country of citizenship.
When you travel to Canada, make sure you have
- a valid passport
- a valid visa or eTA (if required)
- supporting documents confirming you’re eligible to work or study without a permit
Travellers visiting their child or grandchild in Canada
If you’re the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a person registered under the Indian Act, you may be eligible for a super visa.
A super visa
- lets you visit your child or grandchild in Canada for 5 years at a time
- allows for multiple entries to Canada
- is valid for up to 10 years
When you travel to Canada, make sure you have
- a valid passport
- a valid super visa
- the supporting documents you used in your super visa application (such as proof of your medical insurance)
If you’re from a visa-exempt (eTA-eligible) country
If you’ve applied for a super visa and your application was approved, you’ll be sent a letter of introduction. When you travel to Canada, make sure you have
- a valid passport
- the letter of introduction we sent you
- an eTA
- the supporting documents you used in your super visa application (such as proof of your medical insurance)
Top questions about entering Canada
- What happens if I get a new passport after I have received an eTA?
- My minor child is applying for a visitor visa and will travel alone to Canada. What documents must they present with the application?
- Do I need a visa if I’m just travelling through Canada on my way to another country?
- Do I need to apply for both a visitor visa and an eTA?
- How long can I stay in Canada?