Canada – Grace Period for eTA Announced
April 29, 2016
Canadian authorities have announced that visa-waived nationals, excluding U.S. citizens, will be allowed to travel without an electronic travel authorization until Sept. 29, 2016.
The eTA program requires travelers to be pre-screened before entering Canada. As previously reported, the program was expected to become mandatory March 15, but authorities have now announced that they will continue allowing visa-waived nationals to travel without an eTA until Sept. 29, 2016.
This grace period allows business travelers with urgent travel needs to travel to Canada without an eTA.
In the long term, travelers will benefit from the eTA program because eTAs are valid for five years and reduce repeat screening procedures.