Canada has announced visa-free entry for citizens of 13 countries as part of efforts to promote tourism and strengthen international relations.
Under the new policy, travellers from several Caribbean and Latin American nations will be able to visit Canada without a traditional visa, provided they meet specific eligibility requirements. The move also includes an expansion of Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorisation programme, which is designed to simplify short-term travel procedures.
The newly added visa-free countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. Officials say the inclusion of five Caribbean nations reflects Canada’s intention to deepen diplomatic and people-to-people ties in the region.
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According to Canadian authorities, the facility will apply to travellers arriving by air who have either held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years or currently possess a valid United States non-immigrant visa. Eligible visitors may stay in Canada for up to six months without applying for a separate visa.
The eTA is a mandatory digital travel authorisation for citizens of visa-exempt countries and must be obtained online before boarding a flight to Canada. The government says the process is faster, more secure, and more convenient than traditional visa applications.
Officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the policy aims to boost tourism, improve global connectivity, and position Canada as a more accessible destination for international travellers, while maintaining strong border security standards.
