Visas, biometrics and electronic travel authorizations

Entry requirements vary from country to country. Before you travel, understand what you need to enter the destination including any visas, electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) and/or your biometrics.

Visas

A visa is an official document, usually stamped or glued inside a passport, that allows a foreign national to enter a country for a specific purpose and for a set amount of time.

Find out if you need a visa

To find out if you need any visas for your trip, start by consulting our Travel advice and advisories page well before you plan to leave. Select your destination from the drop-down menu and consult the information on visas under “Entry and exit requirements”.

You should then contact your destination’s embassy or consulate in Canada to confirm whether you need a visa to enter the country or stay for a longer period of time.

Get a visa

Visas are issued by foreign government offices in Canada. Requirements, fees and processing times vary, depending on the country and type of visa you need. The most common categories are business, work, student and tourist visas. Get informed by checking your destination’s travel advice.

Remember that representatives from the country to which you are travelling need to see your passport before issuing a visa. If you cannot visit the foreign government office in person and must mail your passport, use secure mail services and enclose a stamped, self-addressed return envelope.

Requirements

Before you go, you should also confirm specific details depending on your situation and destination:

Duration: If you plan to remain in a foreign country for a longer period (usually more than 90 days), you will almost certainly need a visa and should consult your destination’s travel advice to confirm.
Special passports: Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify all visa requirements for each of their destinations, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Arrival visas: Some countries will issue a visa upon your arrival, but it is not a common procedure. Usually, visas must be obtained before leaving Canada. You may be denied entry if you do not have a visa when you arrive in a country that requires one. Consult your destination’s travel advice to confirm.
Visa passport pages: You are responsible for ensuring that your passport contains empty visa pages. If the pages of your passport have become filled with visas or entry and exit stamps, apply for a new passport.

Renew my visa

To extend your stay in a country beyond the period permitted by the visa you currently hold, or to change the status of your visa (for example, from a tourist visa to a work visa), contact your destination’s immigration authorities while you are in the country.

Biometrics

Some destinations require that your photo and/or fingerprints be taken by authorities upon arrival at your port of entry. This creates a digital record that registers your biometric details and usually replaces the need to stamp your passport.

The period of validity of your digital record is defined by each country. Know that you may be asked to provide your biometrics again, despite any recent travel to the destination.

To find out if biometrics are an entry requirement for the country you plan on travelling to, check the Entry and exit requirements in the destination’s travel advice.

Electronic travel authorizations

Certain countries require visa-exempt travellers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entry. This digital document, which can be acquired online, serves as a security measure and an initial screening process.

To find out if you need an ETA to enter the countries you’re travelling to, consult the Entry and exit requirements for your destination via our Travel advice and advisories.

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