Canada opens eTA route to Morocco and Seychelles, but not all travellers qualify

Citizens of Morocco and Seychelles can now travel to Canada by air using an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) instead of applying for a traditional visitor visa. The two are the only African countries covered by the arrangement.

It is not a blanket visa waiver. Only passport holders who meet specific conditions set by the Canadian government can use the route, and the eTA does not guarantee entry at the border.

Who qualifies

Moroccan and Seychellois travellers must meet three conditions. They must have held a Canadian visitor visa within the past 10 years, or currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa. They must be travelling to Canada for a temporary stay, normally up to six months. They must also be flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport on a valid passport from an eligible country.

Anyone who does not meet all three requirements still needs a Canadian visitor visa.

Canada expanded eTA eligibility in 2023, allowing citizens of selected visa-required countries to use the electronic system. The measure created a simpler travel document route for qualifying visitors, but it did not remove the underlying visa requirement for everyone from those countries.

Air only, and C$7 to apply

An eTA is an electronic travel authorisation linked to a traveller's passport. It is not the same as a visitor visa, and approval does not guarantee admission into Canada.

Eligible applicants can apply online with a valid passport, an email address and a credit or debit card. The application fee is C$7. Most applications are processed quickly, though immigration officials may request additional information before deciding.

Travellers must board their flight with the same passport used for the eTA application. If they get a new passport, they must apply for a new eTA.

The option covers arrivals by air only. Moroccan and Seychellois citizens travelling by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship, still need a valid visitor visa. A traveller who qualifies for an eTA when flying cannot use that authorisation for a land or sea journey into Canada.

Those who already hold a valid Canadian visitor visa can keep using it to fly to Canada until it expires. They do not need an eTA as well.

What it means for African travellers

Nigeria is not on the list of countries covered by the arrangement. For now, Nigerian passport holders heading to Canada by air still face the full visitor visa process, including biometrics, documentation and longer processing times. The Morocco and Seychelles route shows how Canada is loosening entry rules for travellers with a recent Canadian visa history or a valid US visa, which is a pattern worth watching for other visa-required countries.