European citizens must have an eTA when flying to Canada. The eTA allows travel for tourist or business purposes. If you want to travel to Canada for other reasons, you may also need a work or study permit.

Air travel to Canada

Canada is a popular destination among travelers from German-speaking countries. The country is a fantastic holiday destination for nature lovers in both summer and winter, and many people also come to the North American country for business. Canada is also a fascinating destination for younger travelers, for example for a year abroad, studying abroad or a semester abroad.

The flight connections to Canada are relatively good. Direct flights to the major cities of Toronto, Montreal and, in some cases, Vancouver are offered from the airports in Vienna, Zurich and Frankfurt am Main. A direct flight takes around 8 to 10 hours, depending on the exact destination. However, during stopovers, such as in London or Reykjavik, the flight duration can quickly increase to over 10 hours. For the cheapest connections, a travel time of 14 hours, including transfer time, is not uncommon.

Travel documents for Canada

To enter Canada, in addition to a valid passport, you also need an entry permit in most cases. Austrian, German and Swiss citizens can use an eTA to enter the country. This is an electronic entry permit, which can be applied for online before departure. Travelers from many other countries must apply for a visa instead. As a rule, if you apply for a visa, you have to visit a so-called “Visa Application Centre”, which maintains official contacts with the Canadian government and supports the authorities in processing visa applications.

When it comes to your passport, it is important to note that it must be valid for your entire stay. If it expires before your planned return trip, you should apply for a new passport well in advance. With a valid passport and an eTA, entry into Canada should go smoothly in most cases. However, in suspicious cases, the border guards may ask further questions. You should therefore be prepared to demonstrate that you will not violate visa regulations, for example regarding the permitted length of stay, and that you have sufficient financial resources for the planned stay.

Entry by plane, ship or overland

An eTA or visa is always mandatory for air travel to Canada. When entering the country by land or water, in most cases Austrians, Germans or Swiss only need to present a passport. An eTA is not necessary for a tourist or business stay of up to 6 months. For example, if you drive a rental car from the USA to Canada for a few weeks, you do not need to apply for an eTA.

Entry requirements for various travel purposes

With an eTA you can travel to Canada for a holiday or a business trip. Business trips include various activities that do not require physical work, as well as after-sales services. It is important that the employer is not based in Canada. Qualified persons may With an eTA you can only do physical work in Canada for a short period of time. The limit is one work stay of a maximum of 30 consecutive calendar days per year or two stays of up to 15 consecutive days per year that are at least 6 months apart. If you want to work in Canada for a longer period of time, you need a work permit. However, with an eTA you can study in Canada for up to 6 months. It can therefore be used, among other things, for a semester abroad, language courses or further training. A study permit is required for longer studies.

A special feature of Canada is that the country offers a working holiday visa for young people. The visa allows you to stay for up to one year, during which you can work in Canada to finance your stay. This means, for example, that you can travel to Canada as an au pair, do voluntary work or travel around the country and occasionally work for different employers on a short-term basis. It is important to check carefully in advance whether you need a visa to travel to Canada or whether an eTA is sufficient. An eTA Canada is usually sufficient for holiday and business travelers.