Thailand has recently joined 12 other nations in being added to Canada’s electronic travel authorization (eTA) program, as announced by the country’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser. Now, travelers who have either held a Canadian visa within the past decade or currently possess a valid United States non-immigrant visa can opt for an eTA instead of a traditional visa when journeying to Canada by air, as stated on the official website, canada.ca.
Starting Tuesday, qualified travelers from not only Thailand but also Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay can now take advantage of the eTA program. This development aims to streamline travel to the country and offer enhanced opportunities for connectivity, trade, investment, and cultural exchange, ultimately boosting the Canadian economy.
Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) for Winnipeg North, Kevin Lamoureux, expressed his enthusiasm about making travel to Canada more accessible, saying, “By making travel to Canada more accessible, we are enhancing opportunities for collaboration, trade and investment, thus invigorating our economy.”
For those considering utilizing this new travel option, it’s essential to understand that the eTA program only applies to air travel. Those travelers arriving in Canada by other modes of transportation, such as land or sea, will still require traditional visas. Furthermore, electronic travel authorization is only pertinent to foreign nationals who are visa-exempt, meaning the eTA does not negate the necessity for visa-compliant travelers to obtain a traditional visa.
The addition of Thailand and the other 12 nations to the eTA program reflects Canada’s commitment to international growth, collaboration, and economic development. This move showcases the country’s openness to exploring new and efficient ways of accommodating the travel needs of both business and leisure travelers, while still maintaining stringent security protocols.
Overall, the eTA initiative is poised to make air travel to Canada more streamlined and hassle-free for eligible travelers hailing from these 13 newly added countries. This move will encourage increased collaboration and strengthen ties between these nations, creating a more interconnected global community and fostering international growth.
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