Canada Announces Visa Exemption for Select Filipino Nationals Traveling to the Country

Instead of applying for a visitor's visa, eligible categories of Filipino nationals only need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Canada has recently declared that Filipino individuals who are eligible for business or leisure travel by air will be permitted to enter the country without a visa. The Philippines has been incorporated into Canada's Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program.

Mélanie Joly, Canada's Foreign Minister, stated that the country aims to facilitate global travel and the inclusion of the Philippines is a component of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, as reported by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Filipino passport holders who fall into eligible categories, such as those who have held a Canadian visitor's visa within the past 10 years or possess a valid non-immigrant visa from the United States, are now able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead of a visa. This application can be completed through the website Canada.ca/eTA and serves as a light-touch and pre-travel screening for air travelers.

The cost of the eTA is 7 Canadian dollars or approximately 300 pesos, as reported by PNA. It is important to note that individuals who already possess a valid visa can continue to use it for their travel to Canada.

This decision complements existing measures available to Filipino travelers, including Canada's Transit Without Visa program and the Student Direct Stream.

News Source: Khaleej Times