ETIAS Visa Waiver for Canada Citizens
Learn more about the EU and ETIAS travel authorization
Get notified when ETIAS is mandatory
Start ETIAS Application online
Receive ETIAS confirmation
Welcome to Europe
ETIAS travel authorization for Canadians
Canada and the European Union have a travel agreement. All Canadian citizens can travel to Europe without further visa requirements. The following agreement is valid for short-term travelers to 22 EU countries within the Schengen zone and Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
ETIAS, or European Travel Information and Authorization System, is coming into light as an electronic visa waiver for the nationals of visa-exempt countries traveling to the Schengen Area. The visa waiver program started in 2016 and is expected to launch in 2025. However, the free travel requirements will change by the end of 2025 for Canadians.
The purpose of ETIAS introduction lies in pre-screening visa-exempt travelers to guarantee security for both EU residents and foreign travelers. The ETIAS intends to cross-check the information regarding an applicant across all of its databases to identify potential security threats and prevent such persons from entering the Schengen zone.
Canadian citizens’ information during the ETIAS application will be checked against the EURODAC, SIS, VIS, and other information security databases. Several other EU intelligent agencies implement the ETIAS and support the correct information flow between the officials and applicants.
ETIAS Requirements for Canadians
The European ETIAS visa waiver lists a few requirements for Canadian travelers within the online application. It is impossible to get ETIAS without adhering to the requirements listed above. However, filling in the online ETIAS form, submitting the supporting documents, and completing the application stages should not take 20 minutes.
The application for ETIAS will requie the following information/documents to be submitted:
1. A valid Canadian passport (not expiring at least three months from the date of arrival) 2. Sufficient funds on the applicant’s credit/debit card for the payment of application fees
3. A valid email address to be used for delivering an approved ETIAS
It is essential to double-check the information provided during the application stage. Any inaccuracies within the personal data submitted could result in visa waiver denial. Furthermore, dual citizenship applicants must carry the passport submitted during the application procedure since ETIAS is electronically linked to a single passport.
Get notified when ETIAS becomes mandatory
Canadians will need ETIAS to enter Europe
Canada is on the list of the ETIAS countries, which means that all Canadian nationals will require an ETIAS visa waiver to visit the Schengen Area member states by the end of 2025. The requirement applies to short-term travelers for leisure, business, medical or transit purposes. Canadian citizens must apply for the Schengen visa instead for any other purpose or long-term travel intentions.
ETIAS required
These countries will require an ETIAS visa waiver upon their arrival on their territory.
Austria- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican
ETIAS for Canada represents a multiple-entry travel authorization, meaning that Canadians can travel freely across the 26 member states once they obtain a visa waiver. The nationals of Canada with valid ETIAS can stay up to 90 days in any eligible country. Moreover, ETIAS holders will not need to reapply for the visa waiver every time they visit Europe. However, ETIAS has a validity date for a total of three years after the approval date. As soon as the ETIAS validity expires, Canadians need to reapply for the travel authorization.
The applicants can complete ETIAS online application within a few minutes. They will only have to provide personal information along with their passport details. After responding to eligibility and background questions, the system will email the decision regarding granting the ETIAS visa waiver to the electronic address specified by the applicant. As soon as travelers receive ETIAS approval, it will be electronically linked to the traveler’s passport.
Traveling from Canada to Europe
Once receiving an ETIAS approved within their inbox, Canadian travelers will be able to enter the Schengen Area for multiple short durations throughout its validity or until the passport is expired, whichever occurs first. After the expiration date of the traveler’s passport or ETIAS, they must complete an updated ETIAS Canada application to continue traveling into Europe. This is because the accepted electronic ETIAS can be linked electronically to a specific travel document used to submit an initial form.
It is also crucial to remember the ETIAS may be denied when the information supplied on the application doesn’t correspond to the information on the person’s passport. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all application details are correct before applying.
ETIAS issued to Canadian citizens could also be suspended when it is determined that the conditions to issue the travel authorization have not been fulfilled. This is the most common scenario when the authorities suspect that the visa waiver was obtained by providing false information.
Canadian citizens who travel in Europe with children must be aware that it is required for children under 18 to be issued an authorized ETIAS even though the parents and legal guardians are permitted to complete their ETIAS request on behalf of the child.
Travelers from Canada who wish to remain within the Schengen Area for more than 90 continuous days or travel for reasons other than the ones permitted by ETIAS, for example, work or study, are required to apply for a Schengen visa at a consulate or embassy.
Unlike the ETIAS available to Canadians, The Schengen Europe visa can only be issued to a specific Schengen country. It is issued as a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa since the duration of the Schengen visa to Canadian residents is decided according to an individual. The applicants must submit an application in person to the consulate or embassy of the country they intend to visit.
To apply for a visa, you must make an appointment at the embassy with a range of supporting documents, such as a filled-in Schengen visa application form for Canadians along with an original Canadian passport, as well as proof of funds to pay for the expenses of staying in Europe. Canadian citizens must submit the Schengen visa application within 15 days of entry to Europe to give enough processing time.
For EU citizens traveling to Canada
As mentioned above, Canada and the EU have a travel agreement that frees their citizens from visa requirements while traveling between these two regions. Hence, European citizens do not need a travel visa for short-term visits to Canada. In contrast to European stay limits, EU citizens can remain in Canada for 180 days. Canada has a similar travel authorization to the US ESTA and European ETIAS, an eTA. An eTA is an electronic travel authorization form that requires all EU travelers to pre-register for the visa waiver before crossing the Canadian border. Canadian eTA works the same way as other travel authorizations. It has an online application requiring only personal and passport details and a few health and security-related questions. After acquiring the eTA visa waiver, Europeans can visit Canada for 180 days. ... Europeans must apply for the Canadian visa for more extended stays or purposes other than listed on eTA requirements. The Canadian visa application requires a visit to the nearest Canadian Embassy or consulate. However, the visa requirements differ significantly from the eTA travel authorization requirements.
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Bilateral agreements between Canada and the EU Member States
Due to bilateral visa waiver agreements, Canadian citizens can remain for extended periods in some European nations over the 90-day Schengen limit.
These Schengen Area nations that currently have bilateral agreements with Canada are listed below, as well as the maximum duration of stay in each instance:
• Belgium (2 months)
• Denmark (3 months)
• Germany (3 months)
• Greece (90 days)
• Spain (90 days)
• France (90 hours)
• Italy (3 months)
• Hungary (90 days)
• The Netherlands (90 days)
• Austria (3 months)
• Portugal (60 days)
• Sweden (3 months)
Schengen-associated countries:
• Iceland (3 month)
• Norway (90 days)
Canadian citizens who avail in one of these agreements must remain within the EU member state they are applying to throughout the duration of the extension. Under a bilateral agreement, the agreement does not permit Canadian citizens to move around in the Schengen Area freely.
To this end, after their time in Canada, Canadians must leave the particular European country either directly to a foreign country or through the non-Schengen territory.
Governments can modify agreements bilaterally with Canada and EU member states.
How do I apply on behalf of ETIAS Canada?
Canadian citizens need to apply online to get the ETIAS Online Visa Waiver. Registering for ETIAS is intended to be simple and fast to speed up the approval process. Similar to the ESTA program currently in place across the United States, applicants will be required to answer a few security questions and give personal information and details regarding the travel plan they are planning to take.
The personal information and passport details to be provided when filling out the ETIAS form for Canadian citizens include the full name and gender and current address, as well as contact phone number, the date where they were born, their country of birth as well as passport numbers, nationality and the date of expiration/issue of passport. It is also required to include information about the Schengen country of first registration on an application form. Candidates will also be asked to provide details about their educational background and current employment circumstances.
The security-related concerns on the Canada ETIAS form address issues such as:
• Prior travel to Schengen Area
• Criminal convictions history
• Previous travel to conflict zones
It is vital to know that Canadian citizens who have minor convictions for criminal offenses are likely to get the ETIAS Europe Visa waiver provided that they can be truthful about their criminal past. However, those with more serious convictions that have resulted in the use of jail time, specifically human trafficking, terrorist acts, or drugs, aren’t likely to be granted an electronic travel authorization to Europe.
Once the passenger has provided the necessary information and pays the minimal ETIAS fee, The passenger will receive an approved ETIAS visa waiver by email in 24 hours. The only thing is that Canadian citizens are required to submit their application within 72 hours of the scheduled date for arrival within the Schengen Area to allow enough period for visa waivers application to be processed.
Canadians can apply to ETIAS online, from any place outside the Schengen Area, using any device, including a tablet, desktop computer, and mobile.
