Australians do not need a traditional visa to visit Canada, but they do need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before flying there. It is not the same as a visa — think of it as a background pre-check that is linked electronically to your passport and verified by the airline when you check in. If you do not have one on file, you will not board.

The good news is that it takes about five minutes online, costs CAD $7, and for most applicants approval arrives within minutes. Once approved, it is valid for five years and covers multiple trips.

Compare flights to Vancouver (YVR), Toronto (YYZ), and Montreal (YUL) — routes from Australia typically connect through the US, Asia, or the Pacific, and the connection point affects both total travel time and pricing considerably.

Your eTA is linked electronically to your passport number — there is no physical document, sticker, or label. Airlines check it automatically at check-in. If you get a new passport, you need a new eTA before your next trip to Canada, even if your previous one has not expired.

An approved eTA authorises you to board a flight to Canada — it does not guarantee entry. The Canadian Border Services Agency officer at the port of entry makes the final call on whether you can enter and how long you can stay. The maximum is six months per visit, but officers may grant less if they have questions about the purpose or duration of your stay. Carry your return ticket, accommodation bookings, and a rough sense of your itinerary when you arrive — officers sometimes ask.

Banff and Jasper in summer, Whistler in winter, the Niagara Falls boat tour, whale watching off Vancouver Island, and Old Quebec City's walled old town are all worth pre-booking. Browse things to do in Canada on Traveloka.

Compare flights to Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, browse hotels from budget stays to landmark properties like the Fairmont chain that defines Canadian hospitality, and pre-book things to do through Traveloka — Southeast Asia's leading travel aplikasi. Check deals on Traveloka for North America promotions, and download the Traveloka aplikasi before you go.