Visa-exempt
Statutory definition
Section 190 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, SOR/2002-227, designates the countries and travel documents that are exempt from the temporary resident visa requirement. Citizens of designated countries and holders of certain travel documents (such as United States nationals) do not require a visa to enter Canada as visitors, students, or temporary workers below certain thresholds.
Explanation
Visa-exempt status determines the travel documents a foreign national must obtain before arriving at a Canadian port of entry. Key distinctions:
- TRV not required — citizens of visa-exempt countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and most EU member states) do not need a visa to come to Canada as visitors
- eTA required for air travel — most visa-exempt foreign nationals (except US citizens and Canadian permanent residents) must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization before boarding a flight to Canada; the eTA is automatically linked to the passport
- Port of entry admission still required — visa exemption does not guarantee admission; a border services officer must still grant entry and may impose conditions
- Status changes — a visa-exempt national who applies for a work or study permit may still require an eTA or TRV depending on the type of permit and application method
How this term is used
Visa exemption applies to the entry document only — it does not affect the conditions under which a person may remain in Canada. A visa-exempt visitor is still subject to the maximum 6-month stay (or the period authorised at entry) and must comply with all other conditions of their status. Citizens of countries not on the visa-exempt list must obtain a temporary resident visa before arriving at the port of entry (except for permanent residents returning to Canada).