Canada Expands Visa-Free Travel to 13 Countries, Including Morocco

No more visa for Moroccans or travelers from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay who have had a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or who currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. They can apply for an eTA instead of a visa if they are traveling to Canada by air, reports Gulf News.

Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced on June 6, 2023, the addition of these 13 countries to the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program. To apply for an eTA, applicants must have a valid passport, a credit or debit card, an email address, and access to the internet. The application fee is CAD $7 (approximately USD $5).

This expansion aims to make travel to Canada faster, easier, and more affordable for thousands of travelers, allowing them to stay for up to six months for business or leisure. This measure is expected to boost Canada’s economy by facilitating increased travel, tourism, and international business, while strengthening relationships with these countries. It should also help alleviate the processing of thousands of visa applications in Canada, thus allowing for more efficient visa application processing for all applicants.

It should be noted that those who are not eligible for an eTA or who are traveling to Canada by means other than air (for example, by car, bus, train, or boat, including cruise ships) will still need a visitor visa.