Ottawa: In a bid to boost tourism and strengthen international relations, Canada has announced visa-free entry for citizens of 13 countries, allowing them to visit the country under certain conditions without applying for a visa.
The new policy primarily benefits citizens of Caribbean and Latin American countries, who can now travel to Canada for short-term visits. Alongside this, Canada is expanding its Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program to include more countries, simplifying entry procedures for travelers.
The list of newly added visa-free countries includes Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. This move is particularly seen as a positive step for Canada’s diplomatic ties with Caribbean nations, as five of them are included in the new list.
Officials clarified that this visa-free entry is applicable for travelers arriving by air, who either held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or currently possess a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. Eligible travelers can stay in Canada for up to six months without obtaining a separate visa. The eTA serves as a mandatory digital authorization for travelers from visa-exempt countries.
The Canadian government emphasized that the policy aims to encourage tourism, strengthen global relations, and make Canada more attractive for international travelers.
