New entry requirements for UK travellers to Canada
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at 21:28 by Onlyplanes.
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TimFitzgeraldTCParticipantGood Afternoon
This has come through. Bit like the US ESTA then.
“The Government of Canada have advised they will introduce a new entry requirement, requiring all British citizens to obtain an online authorisation before flying to Canada. Beginning on August 1st 2015, eligible travellers will be able to apply for their ETA in advance but it will not be mandatory until March 15th 2016.
The authorisation is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Travellers who get an ETA early will have the benefit of knowing that they have been pre-screened to travel to Canada, streamlining their entry into the country.”
Applies to citizens of other countries as well
“Please note that there is a full list of countries for which an ETA is required on the Government of Canada website. The cost for the visa is currently $7 Canadian. Please refer to the website for further information. “
3 Jun 2015
at 15:38
Cedric_StatherbyParticipantI agree about the reciprocal process. One country that certainly got its own back on the US is Chile, which objected to their citizens having to pay a large sum of money for US clearance , and so imposed an equally large payment on US citizens entering Chile.
Americans found on arrival at Santiago that they were herded into a separate queue and made to pay $100 at a counter in a slightly out of the way part of the airport. And the Chileans made sure the counter was not always well manned. I had one colleague who had to queue for over 45 minutes – at the end of a 10 hour flight – just to get the required piece of paper (and no originally you could not pay in advance).
Chile has now been allowed to join the ESTA programme and Chileans no longer have to pay a huge fee to enter the US. And surprise surprise, the fee to enter Chile for Americans has also been cancelled.
Every now and then, standing up to the bullies in Washington does eventually pay off.
4 Jun 2015
at 11:07
HedgeFundFlyerParticipantCanada is a beautiful country but, even without this latest step, its border guards are in a league of their own. I’ve never passed into Toronto or Vancouver without some bearded egit asking me stupid questions about what I do, how much I earn, who’s paying for my hotel, who I’m meeting, when I last saw my Aunty Doris etc.
On one occasion I got selected for a search. The cheeky bugger went straight for my iPad, asked me to unlock it and then proceeded to go through my internet history. It was very obvious I was there on a business trip with a small carry on and nothing remotely suspicious about me or visit.
5 Jun 2015
at 00:16
OnlyplanesParticipantThe implementation of Canadian ETA is part of a border agreement with the USA. In exchange, both countries will ease the flow of goods and people (Canadians and Americans) between the two countries.
The ultimate goal is to align the immigration processes in both countries. For instance, if someone is denied entry to the US, it will be also denied entry to Canada and vice-versa. Unlike the US, the Canadian government is not trying to fund its tourism industry with the ETA, but simply to cover its costs. Of course, free is always better.
This agreement is critical for the Canadian economy as the US is its biggest trading partner.
BTW, the Australian eTA is not free for Canadian and American citizens. It costs AU$20 and is valid for 12 months only !!!
11 Jun 2015
at 23:50
icenspiceParticipantSoz Canada but you will never ever find me trying to enter your beautiful country after being singled out at YVR for an interrogation. And I mean a full-on interrogation in full view of a queue of unfortunates.
And people complain about U.S. immigration.
12 Jun 2015
at 01:09
LuganoPirateParticipantA real shame this is happening but expect more of the same as countries step up their efforts to try and stop terrorists entering. I rather wish, like I think some Asian countries, there was a universal visa allowing entry into those countries signed up to it. This would make life so much easier for those who travel a lot as well as for the countries concerned.
I think we’re not at the point where personal privacy is a thing of the past with governments knowing everything about us as well as having access to our bank accounts, credit card statements and even health records, so this would not make much difference.
12 Jun 2015
at 07:37
MartynSinclairParticipantWith passports becoming so technically advanced, what actually is the point of a electronic passport holders needing a visa?
I can enter the USA by swiping my passport…. all data is contained either in my passport or the USA immigration computers.. Why the need for ESTA for USA / Canada?
12 Jun 2015
at 09:22
conshaldowParticipant@ canucklad
I was told by a senior security official in the US last year that the money received from the ESTA process is actually used to fund DiscoverAmerica/Brand USA who have been central in tourism advertisement over the last 3 years. No doubt you will have seen a few of their adverts. I believe over this period interest in visiting the US has increased and the number of UK visited has increased by 2.4%
I’m hoping the Canadian ETA money will be used in a similar fashion. If the money is used to directly fund advertisement campaigns for tourism it can in the end have a positive effect.
12 Jun 2015
at 11:04
OnlyplanesParticipantThe Canadian government has said that the money collected for the ETA will only cover its operation costs.
Tourism campaign are generally done by each province/territory with few campaigns from the federal government. Unlike the USA, Destination Canada was (and is) not underfunded because of political bickering…
12 Jun 2015
at 17:49
OnlyplanesParticipant@ HarryMonk
If Canada was interested in revenue, it would have been operational years ago (when the country had a huge deficit back in 2008) and passengers would have paid much more than the $7 every five years.
12 Jun 2015
at 17:53 -
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