Crossing the Canada – U.S. border
Do you intend on travelling to the USA after staying in Canada? If so, you will most likely need a travel authorisation for the USA, in addition to your eTA for Canada. On this page, you will find information on all the rules that apply to travel between Canada and the USA.
Travelling from Canada to the USA and vice versa
If you intend on travelling to Canada and the USA, you will need a valid passport and a separate travel authorisation for each of the countries. The easiest way to fulfil this requirement is by applying for an electronic travel authorisation, which is called an eTA in Canada. If you arrive in Canada by airplane, you always need to hold a valid eTA travel authorisation or a visa. In order to cross the border between the United States and Canada, it is generally necessary to have an eTA, ESTA or visa. An eTA application is faster, cheaper and simpler than a visa application. Nevertheless, the eTA needs to be applied for before departing for Canada.
Travelling from Canada to the USA
In case you want to travel to the USA after staying in Canada, you need to hold a valid travel authorisation for the USA as well. You may use an ESTA or a visa. The ESTA is an electronic travel authorisation that is comparable to the eTA Canada, but it is issued by the immigration services in the United States of America. You always need a travel authorisation when entering the United States, regardless of your means of travel (by land, sea or air). An ESTA application is simpler, faster and cheaper than a visa application. However, if you do not fulfil the ESTA requirements, you have to apply for a visa for the USA.
Travelling from the USA towards Canada
If you are in the USA and intend to travel to Canada by car, train, bus, boat or cruise ship, you are not required to apply for an eTA. An eTA is not mandatory for crossing the border from the USA to Canada by land or sea, as long as the traveller fulfils all requirements for visa-free travel. These include having a visa-exempt nationality. In that case, you are only required to fill in a form upon arriving in Canada, after which you are free to continue your journey. Please keep in mind that you need to hold a valid passport during your entire stay in Canada. Travellers who are not eligible for an eTA, always need to apply for a visa, even if they travel to Canada by land or sea.
Flying from the USA to Canada
Unlike for a trip by sea or land, an eTA is always required when flying from the USA to Canada. This is also applicable if you fly from the USA to Canada for a transit to another country only. If you arrive in Canada by airplane, you always need to hold a valid travel authorisation, regardless of the place of departure or arrival of your trip. A valid eTA or visa Canada is always mandatory in that case. Applying for an eTA is recommended for everyone who is eligible, since this travel authorisation is the easiest and fastest way to fulfil the visa requirements.
What if you are not eligible for an eTA or ESTA?
If you do not meet the requirements for an eTA Canada, you will have to apply for a visa for Canada. The same applies for the ESTA for the USA. If you do not meet the ESTA requirements, you will need to apply for a US visa. Your personal situation determines which exact visa you need. For instance, if you only wish to enter one of these countries for a short stopover, you can apply for a transit visa. In the USA, this visa is called a C-visa. However, under certain circumstances, you could also use a visitor visa for your transit. Therefore, it is vital to inform yourself about the visa requirements of the country you are travelling to, and to take care that you hold all necessary documents before departing.
