SINGAPORE - Singaporeans planning to visit or transit in Canada will soon require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) in order to board their flights.
Starting from Nov 10, citizens of visa-exempt countries, including Singapore, will need to submit an online eTA form, found on the Government of Canada website, before they will be allowed to enter Canada by air.
The eTA requirement first took effect on March 15, but the Canadian government implemented a leniency period to ensure travellers were not caught unaware. During this period, which will end on Nov 9, travellers are permitted to board their flights without an eTA.
Applying for an eTA costs just C$7 (S$7.20). Travellers only need their passport, a credit card and an email address to make the application, and a third party, such as a friend, family member or travel agent, can apply for an eTA on the traveller's behalf.
The eTA is electronically linked to a traveller's passport and is for short-term stays for visitor, business and tourism activities. United States citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa are exempt, and an eTA is not required for entry to Canada by land or sea.
While most applications are approved within minutes of applying, some may take several days to be processed, so travellers are advised to get an eTA before booking a flight.
