Canada eTA for Australians: flights, fees and visitor status
Eligible visa-exempt visitors flying to Canada generally need an eTA. The official application fee is CAD$7. The eTA is tied to the travel passport; the length of a visit is decided separately at the border.
Travelling on a different passport? Entry rules change with nationality. The worked examples below use an Australian passport, but our free visa checker shows provider data where available — confirm your own requirements with the destination’s official authority before booking.
Review scope: 25 October 2026
IRCC’s official eTA fee and air-versus-land/sea eligibility guidance were checked. A visit’s duration and any visitor record are separate from eTA validity.
Sources and what they coverCorrection — 16 October 2026
The earlier guide claimed that asking for a short stay prevents later extensions and quoted unsupported work-permit costs and provincial driving rules. Those claims have been removed.
Use the official application
Prepare the passport, email address and payment method before opening the government form. Compare every passport detail before paying and check the issued authorisation. Some applications need extra information, so do not treat a typical processing time as a promise.
Check how long you may remain
The government’s arrival guidance explains the role of the passport stamp and any visitor record. If no stamp is issued, its published default rule applies, subject to passport expiry. Follow the actual document and instructions rather than assuming the eTA validity is the permitted stay.
Extending a visit
A visitor record can extend or define visitor status; it is not the same as a new eTA. The official guidance says it does not matter whether entry was on an eTA, visitor visa or another document. Check when to apply and what status you may hold while an application is processed.
- Confirm whether arrival is by air, land or sea; the document rules can differ.
- Check separate US permission if the route crosses or transits the United States.
- Use the official IEC, study or work-permit process for those activities.
- Confirm provincial driving rules and hire conditions instead of applying one national time limit.
Check how you enter Canada, not only where the cruise ends
| Eligible Australian visitor’s route | Document distinction to resolve |
|---|---|
| Fly into Vancouver to join a cruise | Air arrival generally needs an eTA |
| Arrive as a visitor by land or sea | The ordinary eTA air-travel requirement differs; check passport and other conditions |
| Fly through a Canadian airport | A connection can still need eTA even without a city visit |
| Travel on another passport or with another status | Use the official eligibility tool for that person |
Illustrative example: a cruise departs Vancouver and finishes in the United States. The fact that the ship journey is by sea does not change a preceding flight into Canada into a sea arrival. Check the Canadian flight entry, the cruise calls and the US arrival separately. If travelling with someone who holds another nationality or status, do not copy the Australian document list to their application.
Keep the passport-linked eTA and the visit permission separate in your records. If a passport is renewed, use IRCC’s instructions to establish whether a new authorisation is needed. If the journey is delayed, a longer hotel booking does not extend visitor status. Resolve that through the appropriate official process before the current permission expires.
Official sources
Use these sources to check the details relevant to your own trip. Requirements, service terms and prices can change.
- Canada — official eTA application and fee
- Canada — visitor-record eligibility
- Canada — arrival and visit duration
- IRCC — eTA eligibility and travel mode — Air, land and sea distinctions and status-specific exceptions.
Check visa requirements for Canada
Free checker — pick your passport and check available visa information for Canada.
Published by Josh P. This is research-based guidance. Send a page URL and supporting source through Contact to report a correction. How we research and correct articles.