Canada eTA for Costa Rican Citizens

Conditional eTA eligibility means that your citizenship alone does not automatically qualify you for an eTA. Instead, you must meet specific additional conditions related to your prior Canadian visa history or current U.S. visa status. If you meet all three requirements, you can apply for an eTA instead of needing a full Canadian visitor visa. It is a conditional pathway designed for citizens of certain visa-required countries who have certain connections to Canada or the United States.

Check your passport for any Canadian visitor visa stamps or stickers. The visa will show the issue date, which is what matters for the 10-year requirement. If your old passport is no longer valid, you can check your immigration records or contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for documentation of your prior visa. When you apply for your eTA, you will be asked to provide details about any prior Canadian visa. Have this information ready when you begin your application.

No, you should not apply for an eTA if you currently hold a valid (non-expired) Canadian visitor visa. Your existing visa provides you access to Canada and is valid until its expiration date. There is no benefit to applying for an eTA when you already have a valid visitor visa. Simply use your valid visitor visa when you fly to Canada, and continue using it until it expires. Applying for an eTA when you have a valid visitor visa is unnecessary and a waste of the application fee.

Your U.S. visa must be valid on the date you apply for the Canadian eTA. However, it does not need to remain valid when you later travel to Canada. As long as it was valid when you submitted your eTA application, it satisfies the eligibility requirement. This is different from the Canadian visitor visa history route, where the visa can be expired—it just needs to have been issued within the past 10 years.

No. The conditional eTA is valid only for air travel and in-transit routes. If you are entering Canada by car, bus, train, boat, ferry, or cruise ship, you cannot use an eTA. You must apply for a Canadian visitor visa instead. This restriction applies regardless of whether you meet all other eligibility requirements. Plan accordingly if you are arranging land or sea travel to Canada—you will need to apply for and obtain a visitor visa before you travel.

Your eTA is electronically linked to the passport you used in your application. If you receive a new passport, your old eTA is no longer valid. You will need to apply for a new eTA and link it to your new passport. The eTA system requires that you travel using the same passport that was used for your eTA application. If you must travel soon and are renewing your passport, apply for your eTA after you receive your new passport. If your old passport contains a Canadian visitor visa relevant to your eligibility, keep that old passport with you when you travel to Canada—border authorities may request to see it as supporting documentation.

An approved eTA remains valid for up to five years from the approval date, or until your passport expires, whichever is shorter. If your passport expires before five years have passed, your eTA will also expire. The length of time you are permitted to stay in Canada is determined by a Canadian border services officer at your port of entry. A typical visitor stay is up to six months, but the officer may authorize a shorter period based on your individual circumstances and the purpose of your visit. The eTA approval itself does not specify a length of stay—the officer's decision at entry is final.

No. An approved eTA means you met the eligibility requirements at the time of application, but it does not guarantee entry to Canada. When you arrive at a Canadian border or airport, a border services officer will conduct a final assessment. The officer may ask about your ties to Costa Rica, your financial situation, the purpose of your visit, and other relevant factors. The officer has the authority to refuse entry even if you have a valid eTA. Final admission to Canada is always at the discretion of the border services officer, and their decision is final.