How Long Is the Canada eTA Valid?
Wondering about Canada eTA validity? How long it actually lasts, and whether you need to reapply for every trip, is one of the most practical questions travelers ask.Canada eTA validity: how long it lasts
The eTA is valid for up to 5 years — or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. This means that if your passport expires in two years, the eTA linked to it also expires on that date, even if the eTA itself is only two years old.Canada eTA validity and multiple entries
A major benefit: with a valid eTA, you can enter Canada (by air) as many times as you like during its validity period, without having to submit a new application each time. Each stay is generally limited to 3 or 6 months, unless border authorities indicate otherwise upon your arrival.When do I need to apply for a new eTA?
- When your passport expires or you get a new passport
- If your current passport is lost or stolen
- If your name or nationality changes
- After the 5-year validity period has expired
How can I check my Canada eTA validity?
The confirmation email you received after approval shows your eTA’s expiry date. We recommend keeping this email until your last planned trip using this eTA.Apply for your eTA now
Before applying, check our step-by-step application guide in our detailed guide: read more here. Do you need a new eTA because your passport was renewed? Apply here.What the five years are actually attached to
An eTA is not attached to you. It is attached to the passport it was issued against. The authorization is stored electronically and checked against the document number you entered, which is why the five-year term is really “five years, or the life of that passport, whichever ends first”.
This catches people who renew early. A traveller with an eTA issued in year one, who replaces a damaged passport in year two, has three years of nominal validity left and none of it usable. The old authorization dies with the old book.
When you must apply again
- New passport, for any reason. Expiry, loss, theft, damage, a change of name, a second citizenship — if the document number changes, the authorization does not follow.
- Emergency or temporary travel documents. These are separate documents with their own numbers and are not covered by an eTA issued against your ordinary passport.
- A refusal or a change in your circumstances since the authorization was granted. A valid eTA is not a guarantee of entry, and material changes are expected to be declared.
When you do not need to apply again
Within the validity period and on the same passport, one authorization covers an unlimited number of trips. There is no limit on the number of entries, and no need to reapply between journeys. Each stay is normally up to six months, but the officer at the border sets the actual length on arrival and may set a different one.
Checking your Canada eTA validity
Before booking, compare three things side by side: the passport number printed in your document, the passport number on your authorization confirmation, and the expiry date of the passport. If the first two differ by a single character, the authorization will not be found at the gate. If the third falls before your travel date, the authorization has already lapsed.
Related reading: what an eTA is and who needs one, the mistakes that cost travellers a flight, and what to have ready before applying.
Canada eTA validity in practice: four examples
| Your situation | How long your eTA lasts |
|---|---|
| Passport valid for another eight years | Five years from approval |
| Passport expires in two years | Two years — it ends with the passport |
| Passport renewed one year after approval | Ends immediately for travel purposes; a new application is needed on the new passport |
| Passport lost and replaced | Same as a renewal: the authorization does not transfer |
The pattern is always the same: the authorization follows the passport number. Whatever happens to the document happens to the eTA.
Canada eTA validity is not the same as length of stay
Two different clocks are running, and confusing them is common.
The validity of the eTA determines whether you can board a flight to Canada. It can run for years.
Your authorized stay is set by the border officer each time you enter. It is usually up to six months, but the officer can set a shorter or longer period and may write a specific date in your passport. That date, not the eTA, governs how long you may remain.
If you want to stay longer than your authorized period, you must apply to extend your status before it ends. The eTA plays no part in that process. If you are thinking about a longer stay or a move, our guide to immigration to Canada covers work permits and permanent residence.
If your eTA expires while you are in Canada
Nothing happens to your current stay. The authorization is checked when you board and when you arrive; once you have been admitted, your stay is governed by the period the officer set. You will, however, need a new authorization before your next flight into Canada — including a return trip if you leave briefly and come back.
Checking what you hold
If you are unsure whether an earlier authorization is still valid, look for the approval email first: it names the passport number the eTA was issued against. Compare it with the passport in your hand. If the numbers differ, the old authorization does not cover you. The Canadian government also provides its own status-check tool for travellers who have lost their confirmation.
When to renew your passport
If your passport has less than two years left and you travel to Canada regularly, renewing first and applying afterwards gives you a full five-year authorization instead of a short one. If you have a trip coming up soon and renewal would take too long, apply on your current passport and accept that you will need a new eTA after renewing.
For general background on the Canada eTA and visa-exempt travel, see the overview of Canada’s visa policy on Wikipedia.
Common questions
Does my eTA cover several trips?
Yes, any number of trips while it is valid, on the same passport.
I changed my name. Is my eTA still valid?
If you obtained a new passport in your new name, you need a new authorization. If your passport is unchanged, the eTA remains attached to it.
Can I extend my eTA?
No. When it ends, you apply for a new one.
My eTA is valid but my passport expires before my return date. Is that a problem?
Yes: the authorization ends with the passport, and many airlines and countries also expect a passport valid for the whole journey. Renew before you go. See passport requirements and common mistakes.
Will the airline accept an eTA issued on my old passport if I carry both?
No. The airline checks the passport you present at check-in. If that is your new passport, it finds no authorization attached to it, even if you carry the old one alongside. Apply on the new passport before you travel. This is easy to overlook when a renewal happens shortly before a trip.
Does the officer at the border check how long my eTA has left?
The officer is concerned with whether you are admissible and how long you should be allowed to stay, not with the remaining validity of your authorization. The airline checks that a valid eTA exists before you board; once you have been admitted, the period the officer sets governs your stay. Plan your next trip around the validity date, not your current one.