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It depends on your situation — and this is the most important thing for Filipino travellers to understand. The Philippines is not a fully visa-exempt country. Instead, it takes part in Canada's expanded eTA program, which lets some Filipino citizens fly to Canada with a simple online authorization rather than a full visa.
You are eligible for an eTA only if you meet at least one of these two conditions: (a) you currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa, or (b) you have held a Canadian visa (temporary resident visa) at any time in the past 10 years. If you meet either condition and you are flying to Canada, you can apply for the eTA. If you meet neither, you are not eligible for the eTA and must instead apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also called a visitor visa. You can review the destination on our Canada travel hub or open the Canada eTA page to check your route.
Because Filipino citizens join the eTA program under expanded eligibility, the deciding factor is your travel history rather than the purpose of your trip. You qualify for the eTA if either of the following is true:
If only one of these applies, you still qualify. If neither applies, the eTA route is closed to you and the correct document is a visitor visa (TRV). Always confirm your US visa is still valid before relying on it, as an expired US visa does not make you eligible.
For Filipino travellers, the choice between an eTA and a visitor visa comes down to whether you qualify under the expanded program and how you are entering Canada. Use this comparison to confirm which document applies to you:
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Flying to Canada AND you hold a valid US visa or a Canada visa from the past 10 years | eTA |
| Flying to Canada but you do NOT meet either condition | Visitor visa (TRV) |
| Entering Canada by land or sea | Visitor visa (TRV) — no eTA |
| Working, studying long term, or immigrating | Work / study permit or visa |
The eTA is faster and cheaper, but it is only available by air and only to qualifying applicants. The TRV involves a longer application, biometrics and a higher fee, but it is the required path for everyone who does not qualify for the eTA.
The eTA application is light on paperwork, but Filipino applicants must be able to demonstrate the eligibility condition. Before you start, have ready:
No photo or biometrics are required for the eTA itself — that is part of what makes it faster than a visitor visa.
If you do not qualify under either condition, do not submit an eTA application — apply for a Temporary Resident Visa instead.
Most qualifying Filipino applicants are approved within minutes, with the confirmation emailed as a PDF. Some applications need additional checks that can take up to 72 hours, so apply at least 3 days before your flight rather than at the airport. If you are asked for more information, respond promptly to keep your application moving. A visitor visa, by contrast, takes considerably longer and should be started weeks ahead.
Once approved, the eTA stays valid for 5 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It is a multiple-entry authorization, so qualifying Filipino travellers can make repeated trips to Canada during that period without re-applying. Each individual stay can last up to 6 months, with the precise length granted by the border officer on arrival. If you renew or replace your Philippine passport, you must apply for a new eTA linked to the new document — even if your old eTA had years of validity left.
The eTA is required even if you are only transiting through a Canadian airport on the way to another country — for example connecting in Toronto or Vancouver. The same eligibility rule applies: a qualifying Filipino citizen can transit on an eTA, while a traveller who does not meet the US-visa-or-prior-Canada-visa condition needs a visitor visa instead. Make sure your eTA is approved before you fly, because it is verified at your point of departure.
An approved eTA lets you board your flight, but the final decision to enter Canada rests with a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer on arrival. Carry the valid Philippine passport linked to your eTA, and be ready to explain the purpose and length of your visit, where you will stay, and that you have the means to support your trip. Keep your qualifying US visa or Canada visa record accessible too. Nothing needs to be printed — the eTA is stored electronically against your passport.
Every traveller needs their own eTA, including children and infants, because each one is tied to an individual passport. Importantly, each family member must individually qualify under the expanded eTA rules — holding their own valid US visa or a past Canada visa. A family member who does not qualify needs a visitor visa, even if everyone else is travelling on an eTA. A parent or guardian can complete the application on a child's behalf.
It depends. Filipino citizens can use a Canada eTA to fly to Canada only if they currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa OR have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years. If you meet neither condition, you are not eligible for the eTA and must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (visitor visa) instead.
You qualify if you meet at least one of two conditions: you hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, or you have been issued a Canadian visa at any time in the previous 10 years. Meeting either one is enough. If neither applies, the eTA is not available to you and you need a visitor visa.
No. Only a currently valid US non-immigrant visa qualifies you for the eTA. If your US visa has expired and you have not held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years, you must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) instead.
A small government fee applies to the eTA. If you apply through an assisted service, a service fee may be added on top for help completing the form, error checks and support.
An approved eTA is valid for 5 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. It allows multiple entries, with each stay of up to 6 months.
No. The eTA only applies to air travel. If you enter Canada by land or sea you cannot use an eTA — you must hold a valid visitor visa (TRV) and a valid passport.
Yes. Every traveller needs an individual eTA linked to their own passport, including children and infants, and each person must individually qualify under the expanded eTA rules. A parent or guardian can apply on a child's behalf.
No. An eTA authorises you to board a flight to Canada, but the final decision is made by a CBSA border officer on arrival. Be ready to show you meet the conditions of your visit, including a valid passport, the purpose of your trip and the means to support your stay.