Canada now lets some citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia use an electronic travel authorization, or eTA, instead of a visitor visa for air travel. The change took effect on May 26, 2026, at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, but it applies only to travelers who already have Canadian or U.S. visa history.
If you are flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport, you qualify for this easier option only if you are a citizen of Indonesia or Malaysia and you meet one of two screening conditions. If you arrive by car, bus, train, or boat, you still need a visitor visa.
Canada Drops Visitor Visa for Indonesia and Malaysia Citizens, Requires Eta Instead
The policy change is real, but it is limited. Canada did not remove visitor visa rules for all Indonesian and Malaysian travelers. Instead, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada opened the eTA system to a narrower group of air travelers from those two countries.
IRCC announced the measure on May 25, 2026. Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, described it in a press release titled “Canada strengthens Indo-Pacific ties through changes to visa requirements for eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia.”
That title matters. So do the words eligible travellers. This is a targeted travel facilitation program for people Canada views as “known” travelers because they have already been screened by Canada or the United States.
Who Can Use an eTA Instead of a Visitor Visa
You can apply for an eTA instead of a Canadian temporary resident visa, or TRV, only if all of these facts are true:
- You are a citizen of Indonesia or Malaysia.
- You hold a valid Indonesian or Malaysian passport.
- You are flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport.
- You are coming for a temporary stay.
- You meet one of these prior-screening conditions:
- You held a Canadian temporary resident visa within the last 10 years, or
- You currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.
If you do not meet every one of those conditions, you still need to apply for a visitor visa.
The U.S. visa rule has one important timing detail
If you are using a U.S. non-immigrant visa to qualify, that visa must be valid on the day you apply for the eTA. Canada says it does not need to stay valid on your actual travel date.
That helps travelers who apply while their U.S. visa is still valid but travel later. Still, you should carry proof of that U.S. visa, or proof of your prior Canadian visa, if it applies to your case.
This Change Applies Only to Air Travel
This is the biggest limit in the new policy. The eTA option works only for air travel.
If you plan to enter Canada by land or sea, the old rule still applies. Even if you meet the new eTA conditions, you still need a visitor visa to arrive by:
- car
- bus
- train
- boat
- cruise ship
That means the same person can face different document rules depending on how the trip starts. You might qualify for an eTA if you board a flight to Toronto, but still need a visitor visa if you plan to enter from the United States by car.
What an eTA Is and How It Works
An electronic travel authorization is a pre-travel entry document linked electronically to your passport. It is not a visa sticker, and nothing is placed in your passport.
Canada says an eTA is valid for up to five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. With a valid eTA, you can usually fly to Canada multiple times for short visits, normally up to six months at a time.
If you get a new passport, you need a new eTA. The old authorization stays linked to the old passport only.
Fee and processing time
The standard eTA fee is CAN$7. Canada says many applications are approved within minutes, though some take longer.
When extra review is needed, follow-up instructions can arrive within 72 hours. Some applications take several days instead of minutes. That is still often much faster than a visitor visa process.
What Happens If You Already Have a Valid Canadian Visitor Visa
If you already have a valid Canadian visitor visa, you do not need to replace it with an eTA.
Canada says valid temporary resident visas remain usable until they expire, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. That keeps the old system in place for many travelers while giving a faster option to a narrower group.
This is important if you recently received a long-validity Canadian visa. You can keep using that visa for travel instead of filing a new eTA application.
An eTA Does Not Guarantee Entry to Canada
You still need to clear border inspection when you arrive. An eTA is an entry document for boarding a flight. It is not a promise that Canada will admit you.
At the airport, a Canada Border Services Agency officer can ask questions, review your documents, and decide if you are admissible. You must still show that you will follow the conditions of temporary entry.
You should carry normal supporting documents, especially if your trip has a specific purpose. These can include:
- return or onward tickets
- hotel bookings or host contact details
- proof of funds
- conference registration or business meeting papers
- school documents, if relevant
- evidence of ties outside Canada
Canada also repeats this point for people who hold visitor visas. A TRV is also not a guarantee of admission.
Students and Workers Still Need the Right Permit
The new eTA pathway changes the document needed to board a flight. It does not cancel Canada’s normal permit rules for study or work.
If Canadian law says you need a study permit or a work permit, you still must apply for it. The eTA does not authorize long-term study or employment by itself.
Examples that show how this works
A Malaysian student accepted into a Canadian university for a multi-year program still needs a study permit. If that student qualifies for the new eTA rule, the eTA helps with air travel documentation. It does not replace the study permit.
An Indonesian worker with a Canadian job offer that requires authorization still needs the correct work permit. The eTA does not grant work rights.
A business visitor attending meetings or a conference usually looks at a different rule. If that traveler is flying and meets the prior-screening requirement, the eTA can replace the visitor visa for the trip.
Why Canada Made This Change
Canada presented the move as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy. IRCC said the change can support business, investment, innovation, tourism, and people-to-people links while maintaining border security.
The government also pointed to travel and trade ties. In 2025, Canada said it welcomed about 18,300 visitors from Indonesia and 11,500 visitors from Malaysia. Canada also described both countries as important Southeast Asian trade partners.
For Canada, the policy can make travel easier for business visitors, families, tourists, and transit passengers who already passed Canadian or U.S. screening. For travelers, it cuts cost and often saves time.
Why the Headline Needs Careful Reading
The phrase “Canada drops visitor visa” sounds broader than the actual rule. What Canada really did was open the eTA program to certain Indonesian and Malaysian citizens who are already known to immigration systems.
That distinction matters because:
- Not every citizen of Indonesia or Malaysia qualifies.
- Not every type of travel is covered.
- Travel by land or sea still requires a visitor visa.
- People without the required visa history still need a visitor visa even for air travel.
This is a targeted visa facilitation measure, not a full visa waiver for all travel.
Practical Travel Scenarios for Indonesian and Malaysian Citizens
You qualify for the eTA
An Indonesian citizen flew to Canada several years ago and held a Canadian visitor visa within the last 10 years. That person now wants to attend a family event in Vancouver and will arrive by air. That traveler can apply online for an eTA instead of a new visitor visa.
A Malaysian citizen has a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa and plans to transit through Toronto on the way to another country. If the traveler is flying and the U.S. visa is valid when the eTA application is filed, that traveler can use the eTA pathway.
You do not qualify for the eTA
An Indonesian citizen has never held a Canadian visitor visa and does not hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. Even if the trip is a simple vacation by air, that traveler still needs a Canadian visitor visa.
A Malaysian citizen qualifies under the prior-screening rules but plans to enter Canada by bus from the United States. That traveler still needs a visitor visa because the eTA does not cover land entry.
What You Should Check Before You Apply
Before you choose between an eTA and a visitor visa, confirm these details carefully:
- Check how you are entering Canada: air, land, or sea.
- Confirm whether you held a Canadian TRV within the last 10 years or still have a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.
- Make sure the passport you use for the application is the same passport you will use for travel.
- If your trip involves school or work, check whether you also need a study permit or work permit.
- Apply early enough to handle any extra review or follow-up instructions.
What This Means for Families, Tourists, Business Visitors, and Transit Passengers
For eligible travelers, the practical benefit is clear. Instead of preparing a full visitor visa application, you can apply online for a CAN$7 eTA. Many decisions arrive within minutes.
That can make a real difference for:
- families visiting relatives in Canada
- tourists booking short vacations
- business visitors attending meetings or trade events
- students who already have the right permit and need the correct air travel document
- transit passengers passing through a Canadian airport
But the easier process only helps if you already fit Canada’s narrow eligibility rules. Everyone else still follows the standard visitor visa system.
What You Should Do Next
If you are a citizen of Indonesia or Malaysia and plan to fly to Canada, first check whether you are a known traveler under Canada’s new rule. Look at your passport, your old Canadian visitor visa history from the last 10 years, and any current U.S. non-immigrant visa.
If you qualify, apply for the eTA before booking last-minute travel. If you do not qualify, start the visitor visa process instead. If your trip involves study or work, file the correct permit application as well.
The rule has been in effect since May 26, 2026, at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. For travelers who meet the conditions, the lower-cost air travel option is already available.
