Canada has expanded its Electronic Travel Authorization program to include the Philippines, Thailand, and 11 other countries, enabling eligible travelers to enter the nation starting 2026 with significantly reduced costs and streamlined processes.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that qualified travelers from these nations can now pay just CAD $7 (approximately PHP 300) for an eTA instead of the traditional CAD $100 visitor visa fee, making Canadian travel more accessible for tourism, business, and family visits.
The program specifically targets "known travelers" who have either held a Canadian visitor visa within the past 10 years or currently possess a valid United States non-immigrant visa, with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo describing this as "a milestone and a striking indication of Canada's growing friendship and trust in the Philippines."
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly emphasized that the initiative aims to facilitate faster, easier, and more affordable visits to Canada for up to six months, strengthening international ties while maintaining secure border controls through pre-travel screening of air travelers.
However, the eTA applies exclusively to air travel, as those entering Canada by cruise ship, car, bus, or train must still obtain a regular visitor visa, with the digital authorization remaining valid for five years or until passport expiration once approved.
