Visa-free entry to Canada for qualified Pinoys starting June 7

Qualified Philippine passport holders may now enter Canada without a Canadian visa starting June 7, 2023 (Manila time).

The Canadian government announced the inclusion of the Philippines in its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) program, which allows Philippine-passport holders with Canadian visa the past 10 years or a valid non-immigrant US visa, to enter Canada visa-free.

The ETA is a digital document that most visa-exempt travelers need to travel to or through Canada by air. Canadian officials use the

ETA application to conduct lighttouch, pre-travel screening of air travelers. It costs CAN$7 to apply, and most applications are automatically approved within minutes.

How to apply

But eligible passport holders are not automatically qualified and, thus, have to apply for the program.

Here are the steps, according to the Canadian Embassy in Manila.

To apply, you need a valid passport from the Philippines, a valid email address and a credit card to pay the CAN$7 fee. You can find the online application form at http:// Canada.ca/eta

After you apply, you will receive an email. In most cases, you will receive an email within minutes. However, some requests may need several days to process. If this is the case for your application, you can expect an email within 72 hours of applying.

Once you receive your ETA, check that the passport number included in your approval email matches exactly the number in your passport. If it’s not the same, you need to apply again with the correct passport number.

If you have entered a wrong passport number, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada, the embassy said.

When your ETA is approved, it will be linked to the passport you used to apply

You need to present your passport when you check-in to your flight to Canada.

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly said the move is part of Canada’s Indo-pacific strategy.

“Canada is a destination of choice for so many around the world. We’re making it easier for more people to visit Canada, whether they’re coming to do business, sightsee or reunite with family and friends,” she said. “Expanding the ETA program to include countries like the Philippines is also an important part of our Indo-pacific Strategy, as we look to further engage in the region, build on people-to-people ties and make travel to Canada easier, faster, and safer for everyone.”

Sean Fraser, minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced the addition of 13 countries, including the Philippines, to its ETA program on Wednesday (Manila time).

New countries in Canada ETA

Travelers from the following countries who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an ETA instead of a visa

when traveling to Canada by air: Antigua and Barbuda Argentina

Costa Rica

Morocco

Panama

Philippines

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Seychelles

Thailand

Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay

According to the IRCC, the move aims to make air travel faster, easier, and more affordable for travelers to visit Canada for up to six months for either business or leisure.

“It will also help grow Canada’s economy by facilitating more travel, tourism, and international business and by strengthening Canada’s relationships with these countries while keeping Canadians safe,” the IRCC said. “This decision will also divert thou

sands of applications from Canada’s visa caseload, allowing us to process visa applications more efficiently, which will benefit all visa applicants.”

Individuals with a valid visa may continue to use it when traveling to Canada, while those not eligible for an ETA or entering Canada by other means will still need a visitor visa.

According to Fraser, the eta’s expansion enhances travelers’ convenience and increases travel, tourism, and economic benefits. It would also strengthen global bonds with the 13 countries.

“This exciting development means that more individuals from around the world can now embark on unforgettable adventures, explore our diverse landscapes, reunite with family and friends, and immerse themselves in our vibrant culture without the hurdle of visa requirements,” he said.

The IRCC first expanded its ETA program in April 2017 to include eligible Brazilians, Bulgarians, and Romanians.