Getting your eTA application right first time
The electronic travel authorization (eTA) application is short, but a small mistake can stop you from boarding. Here is what to check before you submit.
Have your passport in front of you
Do not fill anything in from memory. All the information comes from the identity page of your passport:
- the passport number;
- the issuing country;
- the issue and expiry dates;
- your names, exactly as written.
The passport number, character by character
This is the most common mistake, and the most frustrating. The eTA is electronically linked to the number entered: if one character is wrong, the airline will not find your authorization at boarding.
- Tell the letter O apart from the digit 0, and the letter I from the digit 1.
- Do not enter your national ID card number instead.
- Read the number one last time before confirming.
Several nationalities? Pick the right passport
Apply with the passport you will show when boarding. If you are also a Canadian citizen, you cannot use an eTA: you must travel with a Canadian passport.
A new passport means a new eTA
If you renew your passport after getting your eTA, it does not carry over. You must apply for a new one, linked to the new passport, before you travel.
An email address you actually check
The answer arrives by email, as does any request for additional documents. In that case, instructions are usually sent within 72 hours, so keep an eye on your spam folder.
And then?
The eTA lets you board, but the border services officer decides on your entry at arrival. Keep your passport and, if possible, your return ticket to hand.
For the rules that apply to your passport, see the page for your nationality. When everything is ready, start your application.