The Canadian Government, in a game-changing announcement, has just simplified the process of travel for Filipinos who have held Canadian visas in the past or currently possess valid American non-immigrant visas. According to the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines, eligible Filipinos now qualify for visa-free air travel to Canada, signaling a new era of accessibility and convenience. The announcement marks Filipino Heritage Month in Canada, currently home to a million Filipinos.
In a statement released on June 7, 2023, the Embassy said: “Canada values our relationship with the Philippines. With the well-established Filipino diaspora in Canada, along with an increasing number of students and tourists from the Philippines, we recognize the importance of expanding and simplifying travel between our countries.”
Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, announced the addition of the Philippines, along with 12 other countries, to the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program. This means Filipinos eligible for the program can now apply for an eTA instead of a traditional visa when planning to fly to Canada, making travel faster, easier, and more affordable.
The other 12 countries included in this progressive program are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
Eligible Philippine passport holders can now enter Canada with an Electronic Travel Authorization instead of applying for a Visa, the Government of Canada announced this week. https://t.co/KbxGGfmbTr
— GoodNewsPilipinas.com (@GoodNewsPinas_) June 7, 2023
This new measure is expected to divert thousands of applications from Canada’s visa caseload, improving overall visa processing efficiency. “This decision complements our existing mobility measures for the Philippines, like the country’s membership in Canada’s Transit Without Visa program, which allows eligible Filipino nationals to fly through Canada on their way to or from the US without a Canadian visa. It also supports the Student Direct Stream, offering expedited study permit processing for those applying to study in Canada,” added the Canadian Embassy.
A part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, this decision aims to strengthen relations and invest in people-to-people ties between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region, including the Philippines. As a result of these initiatives, over the next decade, Canada anticipates welcoming an additional 200,000 visitors from these countries, leading to a projected additional $160 million in tourism revenue.
Over the past 10 years, Canada has issued 466,936 temporary resident visas to citizens from the Philippines. These individuals, along with current US non-immigrant visa holders, may now be eligible for visa-free travel, further cementing the strong ties between the two nations.
Those who currently hold a valid visa can continue using it for their travels to Canada, while those who aren’t eligible for an eTA or are entering Canada by other means than air, will still need a visitor visa. The eTA application, a simple process costing just CAN$7, requires a valid passport, a credit card, an email address, and internet access.
For further information about eTA eligibility and the application process, travelers can watch this video:
Filipinos who have been honored for their contributions in Canadian society include Top Immigrant awardees Edsel Mutia and Ida Beltran-Lucila, Canadian Medal for Good Citizenship recipient immigrant lawyer William Sayson, and Stephanie Valenzuela, the first Filipino to win a Montreal City Council seat.
Philippine passport holders are currently given visa-free access to 66 countries.
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