Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has released revised travel protocols to define the exact entry requirements for foreign nationals according to their home country and how they travel. These guidelines categorize international visitors, specifying who is exempt from visa requirements, who requires electronic authorization, and who must apply for standard visas.
A restricted group of travelers is exempt from needing both a standard visitor visa and an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This group includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents of the United States with valid green cards, and French nationals living in and flying directly from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Furthermore, official diplomatic personnel and specific commercial flight crews are exempt from these mandates.
A wider range of countries allows citizens to skip the standard embassy visa process, provided they travel by air and obtain an online eTA. These visitors are not required to hold an eTA if they arrive via land or sea. The updated framework provides a structured approach to managing border entry through these tiered requirements.