Why was my Canada eTA denied?

The refusal email names the ground. The most common are a passport reported lost or stolen, an undeclared previous refusal, a criminal record (including DUI), a previous overstay or removal from Canada, or answers that did not match what records show.

Can I reapply after an eTA refusal?

Yes — but only after addressing the reason for refusal. A corrected passport issue or a genuine data error justifies a fresh application. Reapplying with identical information almost always produces an identical refusal, plus another negative entry on your file.

Can I still travel to Canada if my eTA is refused?

Often yes, by another route: a visitor visa lets you present documents and context the eTA process cannot assess; a Temporary Resident Permit can overcome formal inadmissibility for a compelling trip; an Authorization to Return to Canada is required if you were previously removed.

Does a DUI stop me getting a Canada eTA?

It can — impaired driving makes travellers criminally inadmissible to Canada. Depending on how long ago it was, you may qualify for deemed or individual rehabilitation, or need a TRP for a specific trip. Declare it honestly in any application; concealing it is treated as misrepresentation.

Is there an appeal against an eTA refusal?

There is no administrative appeal. The only formal challenge is judicial review at the Federal Court of Canada, via a lawyer — rarely proportionate for an eTA. Practically, fix the refusal ground and reapply, or apply for a visitor visa instead.

Will a refused eTA hurt my future applications?

The refusal becomes part of your immigration record and must be declared in future applications to Canada and some other countries. Declared and explained, it is manageable; concealed, it becomes misrepresentation — a far more serious problem.

Canada eTA Denied: Refusal Reasons & Next Steps 2026

A refusal email for something as routine as a Canada eTA is a shock — especially with flights on hold and a trip taking shape. The essential thing to understand is that a refused eTA is rarely a permanent ban: it is a decision on one application, based on specific reasons, most of which can be addressed. But the worst response is the most common one: immediately reapplying with the same information, which almost guarantees the same result. This guide covers the real reasons eTAs are refused, how to read your refusal message, when reapplying makes sense and when it does not, and the alternative paths — the visitor visa, the Temporary Resident Permit and the Authorization to Return to Canada — for cases an eTA cannot fix.

The refusal email is brief, but it names the ground on which your application failed — and everything you do next depends on it. Broadly, refusals fall into two families:

Fixable application problems — a passport reported lost or stolen, unverifiable details, an error in what you entered.
Admissibility problems — criminal history, a previous overstay or removal, prior refusals, security concerns. These follow you to the next application and need to be addressed, not retyped.

Passport flagged as lost or stolen — if you ever reported your passport missing and then found it, that report may still be active. Travelling on a flagged passport is impossible; resolve it with your passport authority first.
A previous visa or entry refusal — from Canada or elsewhere — that was not declared, or that raises questions.
A criminal record, including offences that seem minor or old — impaired driving is a classic example that makes travellers inadmissible to Canada.
Immigration history — an overstay on a previous Canadian visit, unauthorised work, or a removal from Canada.
Answers that do not match records. The automated checks compare your answers against databases; a "no" where records say "yes" is treated as misrepresentation — often worse than the underlying issue itself.

Reapply only when you can change something real: the lost-passport flag has been lifted, you have a new passport, you made a data-entry error, or you can now answer a background question accurately with the right context. In those cases a fresh, corrected application can genuinely succeed.

Do not reapply with identical information hoping for a different officer or a luckier day — eTA screening is systematic, and a repeat refusal adds another negative record to your file.

Visitor visa (TRV): the standard route when eTA screening keeps refusing you. A visa application lets you submit documents, explanations and context that the automated eTA process cannot consider — police certificates, court records, proof of rehabilitation, reasons for travel.
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP): for travellers who are formally inadmissible (for example, a criminal record) but have a compelling reason to enter Canada. A TRP can overcome inadmissibility for a specific visit.
Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC): required if you were previously removed from Canada. No eTA or visa will work until the ARC is granted.

Canada is unusually strict about criminal inadmissibility — a single DUI can block entry. But it is also unusually structured about the way back: deemed rehabilitation (enough time passed since a single minor offence), individual rehabilitation (a formal application after five years), or a TRP for the interim. If your refusal traces to a record, these are the doors — an eTA reapplication is not.

There is no administrative appeal for an eTA. The formal route is asking the Federal Court of Canada for judicial review, which requires a lawyer and challenges the decision's lawfulness rather than re-arguing the facts — proportionate only in unusual cases. For nearly everyone, the practical path is fixing the underlying reason and reapplying, or switching to a visitor visa where your evidence can actually be heard.

Identify the exact ground in the refusal email.
If it is a data or passport problem — fix it, then reapply.
If it is history (record, overstay, removal, past refusals) — choose the right instrument: visa, TRP, rehabilitation or ARC.
Declare everything on the next application, whatever it is. Concealment converts a solvable problem into misrepresentation.
Rebuild your timeline: alternative routes take longer than an eTA — do not keep non-refundable bookings while this resolves.

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Jump to:

Canada eTA Denied? Why It Happens and What to Do Next

First: read the refusal message properly

The most common reasons a Canada eTA is refused

When reapplying makes sense

When an eTA cannot fix it: your three alternatives

Criminal record: the special case worth knowing

Can you appeal an eTA refusal?

A refusal checklist

Available eTA Canada Types