According to a Flash update from Air Canada, effective May 1, 2017, citizens of Brazil, Bulgaria and Romania may apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), instead of a visitor visa, providing they meet certain conditions, when travelling to Canada by air.

Bulgarian and Romanian nationals: Effective May 1-November 30, 2017, Bulgarian and Romanian nationals may apply for an eTA if they have previously obtained a Canadian visa within the last 10 years or presently have a valid visa for travel to the United States. Effective December 1, 2017, Bulgarian and Romanian nationals may apply for an eTA without the above-mentioned conditions.

Brazilian nationals: Effective May 1, 2017, Brazilian nationals may apply for an eTA if they have previously obtained a Canadian visa within the last 10 years or presently have a valid visa for travel to the United States. Please note that unlike Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, there will be no changes to these requirements for Brazilian citizens as of December 1, 2017.

Canadians holding dual citizenship: If your customers are dual Canadian citizens used to travelling to or transiting through Canada, they cannot apply for an eTA. They will need a valid Canadian passport to board their flight to Canada.

Customers should be advised that visa-exempt foreign nationals* must obtain an eTA before they can board a flight to Canada. To complete their application for an eTA, your customers will need a valid passport, a credit card and an email address. An eTA costs $7.00 CA and is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first).

To determine who requires an eTA or to apply for one, visit the Government of Canada's Electronic Travel Authorization website.

*Visa-exempt foreign nationals are persons who are not citizens of Canada and are not required to obtain a visa for the purpose of travel based on their country of nationality.

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