EUROPEAN TRAVEL INFORMATION AND AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM

ETIAS Requirements for Canadian Citizens

Launching in November 2025, European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be a primary requirement for all Canadian travelers visiting France and the rest of the Schengen Zone.

ETIAS Process Step - 1
STEP 1

Get notified when ETIAS is mandatory

ETIAS Process Step - 2
STEP 2

Start your ETIAS Application

ETIAS Process Step - 3
STEP 3

Receive ETIAS confirmation

ETIAS Process Step - 4
Step 4

Welcome to Europe


What Are the ETIAS Requirements?

From November 2025, as a Canadian citizen, you’ll be required to obtain an ETIAS authorization before traveling to France or any other EU/Schengen Area country.

Applying for the ETIAS authorization is simple. Fill out the application form, upload your biometric passport and submit them after paying the application fee.

After submission, the system will automatically cross-check your provided information’s legitimacy and provide feedback within hours.

Before providing the feedback, the system might ask you for additional documentation to prove your purpose of visit. ETIAS will have a 95% approval rate.

Get notified when ETIAS becomes mandatory! Check the latest news about travel requirements in Europe

What Are the General Terms of the ETIAS Authorization?

Once issued, your ETIAS authorization will be valid for three years or until the expiration of your existing travel document. If you change your passport during these three years, you’ll also need to re-apply for ETIAS authorization. You can’t transfer your ETIAS visa waiver from one passport to another.

Other general terms for eligibility to apply for an ETIAS authorization are the following:

CITIZENS OF VISA-EXEMPT COUNTRIES


Only the citizens of 59 countries worldwide, including Canada, who have visa-exempt travel with the EU, are eligible to apply for an ETIAS authorization.

Nationals of other countries not on the list still require a traditional Schengen visa for traveling to Europe.

SHORT-TERM TRAVELLERS (UP TO 90 DAYS)


ETIAS enables you to travel to the EU/Schengen Area for only short-term purposes, including leisure, business, or medical needs.

If you plan to move to Europe permanently or for more than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa (Type D).

ETIAS REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS


Children up to 12 are exempt from paying the application fee for the ETIAS authorization.

However, they still need to have valid ETIAS visa waivers upon arrival to the EU/Schengen Area border.

Who Can Apply for an ETIAS Authorization?

The nationals of the following countries are eligible to apply for an ETIAS authorization:

  • etias visa waiverAlbania
  • etias visa waiverAntigua-et-Barbuda
  • etias visa waiverArgentine
  • etias visa waiverAustralie
  • etias visa waiverBahamas
  • etias visa waiverBarbade
  • etias visa waiverBosnie-Herzégovine
  • etias visa waiverBrésil
  • etias visa waiverBrunei
  • etias visa waiverCanada
  • etias visa waiverChili
  • etias visa waiverColombie
  • etias visa waiverCosta Rica
  • etias visa waiverRépublique dominicaine
  • etias visa waiverLe Salvador
  • etias visa waiverGéorgie
  • etias visa waiverGrenade
  • etias visa waiverGuatemala
  • etias visa waiverHonduras
  • etias visa waiverHong Kong
  • etias visa waiverIsraël
  • etias visa waiverJapon
  • etias visa waiverKiribati
  • etias visa waiverMacao
  • etias visa waiverMacédoine du Nord
  • etias visa waiverMalaisie
  • etias visa waiverÎles Marshall
  • etias visa waiverÎle Maurice
  • etias visa waiverMexique
  • etias visa waiverMicronésie
  • etias visa waiverMoldavie
  • etias visa waiverMonténégro
  • etias visa waiverNouvelle-Zélande
  • etias visa waiverNicaragua
  • etias visa waiverPalaos
  • etias visa waiverPanama
  • etias visa waiverParaguay
  • etias visa waiverPérou
  • etias visa waiverSaint Kitts & Nevis
  • etias visa waiverSainte-Lucie
  • etias visa waiverSaint Vincent
  • etias visa waiverSt. Vincent
  • etias visa waiverSerbia
  • etias visa waiverSeychelles
  • etias visa waiverSingapore
  • etias visa waiverSolomon Islands
  • etias visa waiverSouth Korea
  • etias visa waiverTaiwan
  • etias visa waiverTimor Leste
  • etias visa waiverTonga
  • etias visa waiverTrinidad and Tobago
  • etias visa waiverTuvalu
  • etias visa waiverUruguay
  • etias visa waiverUkraine
  • etias visa waiverUAE
  • etias visa waiverVanuatu
  • etias visa waiverVenezuela
  • etias visa waiverUnited Kingdom
  • etias visa waiverUnited States
Get notified when ETIAS becomes mandatory!

ETIAS requirements

How Can I Apply for an ETIAS Authorization?

Applying for an ETIAS Authorization is a simple procedure and takes less than 15 minutes.

Open the ETIAS application form and answer all required questions. Then upload a copy of your biometric passport, pay the application fee and submit.

Rest assured, you’ll get feedback on your application within hours.

Most people will get through the application process smoothly, though. If everything is typical on your application and there’s no indication that you pose a threat to the Schengen area, you’ll be granted authorization to travel within 24 hours of submitting your application Keep in mind that ETIAS is a pre-screening process. While your ETIAS status is important, and you won’t be able to travel to France without approval, all applicants who receive authorization to travel through ETIAS will not necessarily be permitted entry at the border. When you arrive for screening at the border, the agent will verify your ETIAS status and may request additional information at his or her discretion. You should keep important travel documents, including hotel reservations, proof of funds, return flight information, and proof of medical insurance handy.

ETIAS Requirements

Having a valid Biometric Passport with at least six months of validity by crossing the French border is one of the essential ETIAS requirements.

A passport is considered valid if it features the following:

  • A photograph that’s printed directly onto the document (not removable)
  • Machine readability
  • An electronic passport chip (you won’t be able to see it, but again, if your passport was issued in 2013 or later, it’s there)

It’s essential you note that your ETIAS authorization is linked to you via your biometric passport. If your passport expires while your ETIAS application is still valid, you will need to reapply for authorization through the online ETIAS portal. Beyond that, you’ll be denied entry if your passport expires within 3 months of your intended date of departure, so if your passport is nearing its expiry, we recommend renewing it ahead of your trip (before you apply for ETIAS authorization).

ETIAS requirements