Canada
Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, known for vast wilderness, multicultural cities, Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, and bilingual heritage (English and French). Ottawa is the capital, while Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are major cultural and economic centers. Visitors are drawn to Niagara Falls, Banff and Jasper National Parks, Vancouver's coastal beauty, Toronto's CN Tower, Quebec City's French charm, Northern Lights in Yukon, wildlife viewing, skiing in Whistler, and friendly Canadian hospitality. Canada offers stunning natural landscapes, diverse cities, and four distinct seasons.
Optional — not required for entry
Visa Requirements for Canada
Canada's entry rules run by nationality. United States citizens enter on a passport alone for visits of up to six months; citizens of visa-exempt countries — the United Kingdom, most of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and others — need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before flying; everyone else applies for a Temporary Resident Visa through a visa application centre or embassy, with biometrics, photos, an itinerary, proof of funds and ties to home.
Before you travel
The eTA
Applied for online on the Government of Canada's own page for a small fee, valid five years or until the passport expires.
US permanent residents
Get no automatic exemption: they need an eTA if their own nationality is visa-exempt, a visitor visa otherwise.
Biometrics appointment
Most visitor-visa applicants book a dedicated appointment at a visa application centre, and a biometrics fee applies on top of the visa fee.
Passport validity
Canada sets no hard minimum, but six months beyond the trip is a sensible margin against a change of plan.
Processing times
Vary by the country of application.
Language requirement
Visits need no English. Permanent residence does: Express Entry measures English or French in Canadian Language Benchmarks through IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core, and the Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for CLB 7 in each skill, equal to IELTS 6 in each.
Certificates, tools and tutorsLanguage requirement
French is Canada's other official language: Express Entry awards additional points for French at NCLC 7 in all four skills and runs French-language invitation rounds, proven by TCF Canada or TEF Canada, and Quebec's own skilled-worker selection sets a minimum spoken French level that rises with the occupation.
Certificates, tools and tutorsVisa types
eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
For visa-exempt nationals (UK, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand and others) flying to Canada for tourism, business, or transit.
US Citizen Entry (No eTA/Visa Required)
For US citizens visiting Canada for tourism, business, or family visits.
Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa)
For nationals from countries requiring visas for tourism, family visits, or business stays in Canada.
Transit Visa
For certain nationalities transiting through Canadian airports en route to other countries.
Guides
Canada stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic — the world's second-largest country by area, with a population concentrated in a thin band along the US border and wilderness that dwarfs anything in Europe. The Rocky Mountains in Alberta and British Columbia deliver some of North America's most dramatic scenery: Banff and Jasper National Parks with their turquoise glacier-fed lakes (Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake), the Icefields Parkway connecting the two parks along 230 km of alpine road, and Whistler for skiing and mountain biking. Vancouver combines Pacific coast beauty with Asian-influenced food culture — Stanley Park, Granville Island market, mountains visible from downtown, and a dim sum scene that rivals Hong Kong. Toronto is Canada's multicultural engine: the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Distillery District, Kensington Market, and neighbourhoods where you can eat Ethiopian, Portuguese, Chinese, Italian, Caribbean and Korean within a single subway ride. Montreal is the francophone counterweight — Notre-Dame Basilica, the cobblestoned Vieux-Montréal, a jazz festival scene that is the world's largest, poutine, smoked meat sandwiches, and a European atmosphere that feels unlike anywhere else in North America. Quebec City is the most European city on the continent: the fortified Old Town (UNESCO), the Château Frontenac, the Plains of Abraham, and winter Carnival. Niagara Falls remains one of the planet's great natural spectacles. The Maritimes — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island — deliver lobster shacks, lighthouse roads, Celtic culture and the Cabot Trail's coastal drama. The Northern Lights are visible from the Yukon, Northwest Territories and northern Manitoba (Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world). And the Canadian wilderness — canoeing in Algonquin, kayaking in Haida Gwaii, hiking the West Coast Trail, watching orcas off Vancouver Island — is on a scale that recalibrates what “outdoors” means.
Canada travel guide →
The full guide — the Cabot Trail, Churchill's bears, iceberg alley and the route across the distances.
Money in Canada →
Dollars, cards and tipping culture — the practical money guide.
Eating in Canada →
Ontario's butter tart, the Nanaimo bar and the Indigenous food traditions older than both.
Getting around Canada →
Distances that demand flying, the one great train ride and when the road trip is the point.
Health & safety in Canada →
Bear country basics, why visitors pay for healthcare, cold lakes, far-north cold and the number to call.
Cities & planning
Airports
Plan your trip
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Regions
Embassies & missions
Africa · 2
- ChileOttawa
- ChinaCalgary · Montréal · Toronto · Vancouver +1
- DenmarkOttawa
- DominicaToronto
- EcuadorOttawa
- EgyptOttawa
- GermanyOttawa
- GuatemalaOttawa
- GuyanaOttawa
- IcelandWinnipeg · Ottawa · Calgary · Charlottetown +9
- IndiaToronto · Vancouver · Ottawa
- Saudi ArabiaOttawa
- South KoreaOttawa
- SwitzerlandMontréal
- ThailandVancouver · Ottawa
- TurkeyMontréal · Toronto · Vancouver · Ottawa
- United KingdomCalgary · Montréal · Toronto · Vancouver +1
- United StatesCalgary · Halifax · Montréal · Québec +3
Accredited missions for Canada
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Canada?
It depends on your nationality. Visa-exempt travelers (UK, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and others) need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. Citizens of countries not on the visa-exempt list must apply for a visitor visa in advance.
Do US citizens need an eTA or visa?
No — US citizens can enter Canada with just a valid US passport for tourism or business stays of up to 6 months, without needing an eTA or visa.
How do I apply for an eTA, and what does it cost?
Apply online through the official Government of Canada eTA page with your passport details. It costs CAD $7, is usually approved within minutes, and stays valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Do I need an eTA if I'm entering by land or sea from the US?
No — the eTA is only required for air travel. Entering by land or sea from the United States doesn't require one, though nationals who need a visitor visa still need it regardless of how they enter.
What does a visitor visa application involve?
You'll apply through a Canadian visa application center or embassy, providing biometrics (fingerprints and photo), passport photos, a travel itinerary, proof of financial support, and evidence of ties to your home country. Processing times vary by country.
What languages are spoken in Canada?
English and French are both official languages. English predominates nationwide except in Quebec, where French dominates — federal government services are bilingual across the country, while in Quebec French is the common language, signage included.
What currency does Canada use, and is tipping expected?
The Canadian Dollar (CAD). Credit cards and ATMs are widely available. Tipping is customary, typically 15-20% at restaurants.
Does Canada have multiple time zones?
Yes — six time zones span the country, from Newfoundland Standard Time (UTC-3.5) in the east to Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) in British Columbia, so it's worth checking local time when travelling between provinces.
Planning a trip to Canada? Check what you need to enter and apply online in minutes.
Optional — not required for entry
This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.