Mississauga, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Omar Alghabra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs), and Arif Virani, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today met with Canadian travellers at Pearson International Airport to launch the government’s Travel Smart app. This new app makes it easy to access real-time information, including entry and exit requirements, border wait times, passport validity and more. Representatives of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and airlines were also on hand to underline how good planning and preparation can reduce the stresses associated with air travel.

Today also marked the implementation of Canada’s new entry requirement, the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This requirement applies to foreign nationals, from countries whose citizens normally do not need a visa to travel to Canada, who are travelling to or transiting through Canada by air. From now until fall 2016 a leniency period is in place to allow travellers without an eTA to board their flights as long as they have appropriate travel documents. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents do not need an eTA.

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