🇨🇦 Canada
No visa, but you cannot board without a CAD $7 eTA.
No visa, but Australians need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before boarding.
Pack a Type A/B adapter for the 120V supply, one Australian dollar buys about 0.99 CAD, and Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) is compulsory before you fly.
Entry rules last checked 24 October 2026.
Canada is the destination Australians most often get turned away at the gate for, and the reason is trivially avoidable: the eTA costs CAD $7, takes five minutes, and is checked by the airline at Australian check-in. Without one on file you will not be allowed to board, no matter that you need no visa.
Your Canada trip setup
20 things Australians need to sort. Tick them off as you go.
Entry requirements
eTA requiredUp to Up to 6 months per entry View detailsFlights
Compare 3 searchs Search flightsConnectivity
Compare 8 plansFrom $8.50 Compare eSIMsTravel insurance
Compare 7 policysFrom $25 Compare insuranceMoney & payments
Compare 5 cards0.43%-0.65% conversion fee Compare cardsAirport transfer
YVR → VancouverFrom $11 Compare optionsDriving
AU licence OKDrives on the right Compare car hireTravel essentials
Adapter type A/BTap water: safe to drink View guideThings to do
Compare 7 experiencesFrom $72 Explore activitiesCanada at a glance for Australians
Best time to visit
June-September for hiking, December-March for skiing
The Rockies are at their best from late June once the alpine roads and trails clear. Ski season runs roughly December to April, and Whistler often longer.
14h 30m from Sydney (direct)
Busiest month for Australian travellers: January, quietest November. Canada travel statistics
Health & safety
Smartraveller: Exercise normal safety precautions
Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Canada. Medical care is excellent and expensive - an ambulance alone can cost several hundred dollars, and a ski injury far more.
Emergency: 911 for everything
Money
Near-universal, including contactless. Canada is close to cashless in cities.
Bank ATMs (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO) are reliable. Avoid the private white-label machines in bars and convenience stores, which charge heavily.
Tipping: Expected and effectively compulsory: 15-20% in restaurants and bars, and card terminals will prompt you with those options. Tip taxi drivers and hotel staff too.
Language & culture
English and French
English: Native, except in rural Quebec where French dominates
Capital: Ottawa
Australian dollar to Canadian dollar
$0.99 CAD per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
Where Australians go in Canada
Vancouver
Toronto
Banff
Montreal
Whistler
Canada FAQs for Australian travellers
Do Australians need a visa for Canada?
No, but you do need an eTA. Australians are visa-exempt, yet must hold an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding a flight to Canada. It costs CAD $7, is usually approved within minutes and lasts five years or until your passport expires.
What happens if I fly to Canada without an eTA?
You will be refused boarding in Australia. The airline checks the eTA against your passport at check-in, and it is the single most common reason Australians miss a flight to Canada. Apply before you book.
How much does a Canadian eTA cost?
CAD $7, applied for at canada.ca. Any site charging AUD $80 or more is a third-party reseller filling in the same government form for you - the fee is set by the Canadian government and does not vary.
Does my eTA still work after I renew my passport?
No. The eTA is linked electronically to the passport number you applied with. If you renew your passport you must apply for a new eTA, even if the old one has years of validity left.
What power adapter do I need for Canada?
A Type A or B adapter. Canada runs on 120V, half the Australian voltage, so chargers work fine but Australian hair dryers and styling tools generally will not.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Canada?
Not in most provinces, where an Australian licence is accepted for short visits, but a few require an IDP alongside it. It is inexpensive and worth carrying to avoid an argument at a hire desk.
Planning Canada?
We will send you the Canada guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.