As of December 1, 2017, Bulgarian and Romanian citizens no longer require a visa to enter Canada for tourism and business visits of up to six months. These travelers can now obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if they plan to fly to or transit through Canada.

Under the eTA program, individuals who do not require a visa and are seeking entry by air as a business visitor or tourist must register prior to traveling to Canada. Evidence of registration must be presented before an applicant will be permitted to board a plane to Canada. eTA’s may be applied for via an online registration system and are typically valid for five years, or until the expiration date on the applicant’s current passport. Generally, once the registration is submitted, confirmation from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is received within minutes.

Companies should ensure that employees of Bulgarian, Romanian, and other qualifying nationalities obtain an eTA before traveling for tourism or business. Please note that having an eTA does not guarantee admission to Canada, as ultimate entry to the country is at the border officer’s discretion.