Canada has officially begun the transition to digital visas, which could soon change how travellers apply for and receive Canadian visas.
The move was announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
According to the agency, Canada is set to transition to digital visas in a bid to modernize travel, enhancing security, and drastically simplifying the application process for millions of global travelers.
The digital visa means travellers will no longer need to mail or hand in their passports to get a visa. Canada says the system adheres to strict privacy and security rules and is designed to work seamlessly with international travel standards.
IRCC also announced that the digital visas trial will begin with Moroccan citizens who have already been approved for a Canadian visitor visa.
These participants will receive a secure electronic version of their visa in addition to the traditional paper counterfoil in their passport. The core goal of this phase is to gather crucial real-world feedback from travelers, allowing IRCC to fine-tune the system and ensure a seamless, user-friendly experience before wider deployment.
According to IRCC, this testing phase aims to “seek valuable feedback” from participants and evaluate a system intended to make travel “faster, safer and more convenient.”
This pilot project will “allow the government to design safe, accessible, secure and user-friendly digital visas in the future, and to test their compatibility with third parties such as airlines,” Canadian authorities explained.
The agency noted that the new format will reduce the need to mail in or physically present a passport to obtain a visa, and is expected to help improve control and security. IRCC also emphasizes that the pilot project “follows all Government of Canada privacy and security rules,” ensuring digital visas are “internationally compatible” in the future.
“What we learn from this pilot will help shape how we deliver digital immigration documents in the future,” the Canadian agency stated.
The agency continued: “IRCC reminds applicants that some Moroccan citizens, as well as nationals from 14 other countries, may be eligible for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada by air if they meet the following three requirements:
• they have previously obtained a Canadian visitor visa within the last ten years, or they
• currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa at the time of applying for the eTA;
• they are traveling to Canada for a temporary stay, generally up to six months;
• they arrive by air using a valid passport issued by one of the visa-required countries listed as eligible for the eTA.
If any of these conditions are not met, a visitor visa is still required to enter Canada.”
