Canada welcomes temporary visitors with a pre-screening system for visa-exempt individuals, known as electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Travelers may be familiar with a similar system used in the United States, known as ESTA, which has been in operation for a number of years. The government of Canada announced that, as of September 29, 2016, an eTA would be mandatory for visa-exempt travelers flying to or transiting through Canada by air. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and persons with a valid Canadian visa. Until September 29, 2016, visa-exempt travelers who do not have an eTA can board their flight as long as they have appropriate travel documents, such as a valid passport. The new eTA system aims to provide stress-free travel for visa-exempt individuals by requiring them to complete an online form before departure. Visa-exempt individuals seeking temporary entry to Canada are asked to complete a short online form, in which they provide some personal information and answer a few basic questions relating to criminality or medical issues.

To complete the online form, applicants need:

- a valid passport from a visa-exempt country;
- a credit card to pay the $7 CAD fee;
- a valid email address; and
- Access to the internet and a few minutes of time.