Do Australians need a visa for Canada?
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Australians do not need a visa for Canada but must hold an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before boarding a flight. It costs CAD $7, is usually approved within minutes, is linked electronically to your passport and is valid for five years or until that passport expires.
Entry requirements for Canada at a glance
Length of stay
Up to 6 months per entry, at the officer's discretion
Onward ticket
Border officers can ask for a return ticket and proof of funds.
Blank passport pages
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Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)
Apply only at canada.ca. The eTA is tied to the passport you apply with, so renewing your passport means applying again even if the old eTA has years left to run.
Apply on the official siteWhat it costs
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| eTA | CAD $7 | All visa-exempt air travellers |
How to get sorted, step by step
- Apply for your eTA at canada.ca before you book, and use only the official site - copycat sites charge many times the CAD $7 fee.
- Check the eTA is linked to the passport you will actually travel on. A renewed passport needs a new eTA.
- Have proof of onward travel and accommodation available for the border officer.
- If you plan to drive, note that some provinces require an International Driving Permit alongside your Australian licence.
What catches Australians out
The airline checks your eTA at check-in in Australia. Without one you will be refused boarding, and this is the most common way Australians miss a flight to Canada.
Your eTA is tied to a specific passport. Renew the passport and the eTA stops being valid, even if it has years left.
Copycat eTA sites charge AUD $80 or more for a CAD $7 government form. Apply only through canada.ca.
A drink-driving conviction, including a decades-old one, can make you inadmissible to Canada. Resolve it before you fly rather than at the border.
Health cover for Australians in Canada
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.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations required. Routine Australian immunisations recommended.
Medications: Bring prescriptions in original packaging with a copy of the script. Cannabis is legal in Canada but taking it across the border in either direction is a federal offence.
Compare travel insurance for CanadaMore Canada essentials
Further reading: Do Australians need a visa? A country-by-country guide
How these comparisons are made
Entry rules on these pages come from the destination's own immigration authority first, Smartraveller second, and the destination's embassy in Australia third - each page links the exact sources it used. An automated job re-reads those government pages every day and moves the review date only when a person or the checker has confirmed the page still says what we say it says. Read the full editorial policy.
Canada entry requirements FAQs
Is the Electronic Travel Authorisation required for Australians visiting Canada?
Yes. Australian passport holders entering Canada must complete the Electronic Travel Authorisation. It costs CAD $7, and you submit it before you book a flight - approval is usually minutes but can take days. Apply only at canada.ca. The eTA is tied to the passport you apply with, so renewing your passport means applying again even if the old eTA has years left to run.
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.
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.