Which documents do I need to enter Canada?
To enter Canada you need a valid passport and either a visa or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), depending on your nationality.
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What you need to enter Canada
Canada divides travelers into three categories: those who need a visa, those who need an eTA, and those who need neither. Knowing which category you fall into is critical - you cannot board a flight to Canada without the right authorization.
- A valid passport (US citizens flying to Canada must use a passport, not just a driver's license).
- An eTA if you are a visa-exempt foreign national flying into Canada.
- A visitor visa if your nationality requires one.
- Proof of return or onward travel.
- A hotel booking confirmation from trip1 or other accommodation proof.
- Proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
Who needs an eTA versus a visa?
An eTA is a quick electronic authorization that costs CAD 7 and is valid for up to 5 years. It is required for citizens of visa-exempt countries arriving by air, including the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea.
A visitor visa is a sticker placed in your passport and must be applied for at a Canadian consulate. It is required for travelers from countries not on the visa-exempt list.
Special rules for US citizens
US citizens are completely exempt from both the eTA and the visitor visa. However, they must travel with a valid passport when flying into Canada. For land or sea entry, US citizens can use an enhanced driver's license or a NEXUS card instead.
Hotel check-in in Canada
Canadian hotels do not require passport registration in the same way some European or Asian countries do, but they will ask for photo ID and a credit card for incidentals. Your trip1 booking confirmation is enough proof of reservation.
Which documents do I need to enter Canada - FAQ
US citizens need proof of identity and citizenship, and Canada's border agency recommends a valid US passport. If you fly, bring your passport, or a NEXUS card if you are a member. At land or sea crossings, documents such as a US enhanced driver's license can be used instead. US citizens do not need an eTA or a visa.
No. US citizens are exempt from both the eTA and the visitor visa, so there is no application or fee for a tourist trip. Just carry proper identification such as a valid US passport. US green card holders are also exempt from the eTA, but when flying they must carry their passport and their green card.
Not a mandatory one. Canada offers an optional Advance CBSA Declaration in ArriveCAN, which lets you submit your customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours before you land at certain Canadian international airports. If you skip it, you make the declaration at the airport when you arrive.
Only with an enhanced driver's license, and only at land or sea crossings. A regular or REAL ID driver's license does not prove citizenship, so it is not enough on its own. If you fly to Canada, bring a valid US passport. Canada's border agency recommends a passport for US travellers whichever way they arrive.
Apply before you book your flight to Canada. The eTA costs CAD 7 and most applications are approved within minutes, but it can take longer if officers ask you for more documents. It is for visa-exempt travellers flying in, such as UK, EU and Australian citizens, and lasts up to five years or until your passport expires.
No. Your eTA is electronically linked to the passport you used to apply, and the airline confirms it by scanning that passport at check-in. Travel with that exact passport. If you get a new passport, you need a new eTA before your next flight to Canada.