ISLAMABAD: Travellers flying to Canada with a Pakistani passport require a valid visa and an eTA, which are not the same document but some third parties are selling fraudulent eTAs to Pakistani citizens, according to an advisory issued by the Canadian Embassy in Islamabad.
The embassy warned that anyone attempting to fly to Canada with a Pakistani passport but without an eTA will not be allowed to board the aircraft.
An eTA costs CAN$ 7 and is obtained through Canada.ca/eTA and travellers should be cautious of other websites that are charging more than CAN$ 7 to submit eTA applications. These companies are not operating on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Canadian permanent residents are also not eligible to apply for an eTA. As usual, they will need to present a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document as well as a valid passport to board their flight to Canada.
Canadian citizens were asked to renew or obtain a Canadian passport as soon as they can to avoid missing their flight to Canada.
All Canadian citizens, as well as all Canadian citizens with a second passport from a visa-exempt country, will need a valid Canadian passport to board their flight to Canada from November 10, 2016.
The recently set up eTA programme is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to or transiting through Canada by air as it will screen travellers for admissibility to enter Canada.
Every Canadian citizen has the right to enter Canada without being subject to the immigration screening that is done under the eTA or the visa application processes. A valid Canadian passport is proof that a person is a Canadian citizen and has the right to enter the country.
It is to mention here that as per announcement made by Canadian Government Canadian citizens with a second passport who currently fly to Canada on their non-Canadian passport, including those with a second citizenship from a visa-exempt country (other than US passport holders), will need to show proof that they are Canadian citizens to board any flight to Canada.
Pakistani passport holders still require a visa to fly to Canada. Information on visas for Canada is available through the website of the High Commission of Canada at www.pakistan.gc.ca.
If a traveller normally does not need a visa to enter Canada because she or he is a citizen of a visa-exempt country, or is a holder of a US Green Card, that traveller needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada.
Exceptions include United States citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa can find more information about these changes at Canada.ca/eTA.
