According to Canada’s visa policy, the citizens of France do not have to obtain a Canada visa before traveling to Canada for tourism purposes. However, you do need to apply for a Canada Visa for French Citizens before your departure if you travel by air. There is one exception to the ETA requirement. It states that French citizens and nationals who reside in Saint Pierre and Miquelon and arrive from the territory are exempt from getting the travel authorization. In all the other cases, the ETA is necessary and iVisa.com can help you acquire it in just half an hour.
CANADA VISA FOR THE CITIZENS OF FRANCE – REQUIREMENTS
Before you access the application page to fill in the form, you need to make sure that you can fulfill the requirements. Fortunately, you only need the following:
- Valid passport – you cannot apply for a Canada ETA unless you are a passport holder. But that is not all. The travel document needs to maintain its validity for at least another 6 months from the date of arrival in Canada, so make sure to check your passport’s expiry date before you apply for your ETA.
- E-mail address – you need to provide iVisa.com with a valid address because the ETA confirmation is sent via e-mail in PDF format. While the ETA is electronically linked to your passport and you do not have to hold a physical copy, most people prefer to print one out, just in case.
- Means of payment – an online application process requires that you make the payment online as well. To that effect, you need to have a valid method of payment. iVisa.com accepts credit or debit cards. Whichever you find most convenient.
CANADA VISA FOR THE CITIZENS OF FRANCE – THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
As soon as you believe you are ready, you can access the application page and fill in the form. The task should not give you any headaches, but if you do need some help, do not hesitate to contact iVisa.com’s customer support. You can do that non-stop at no charge. iVisa.com’s form consists of three simple steps. The first one covers the personal information, travel details, and passport number, but you also have to choose a processing time option for your application. The cost of your Canada ETA depends on the choice you make. You can opt for one of the following:
- Standard processing – if time is not an issue, you can opt for the slowest and cheapest choice you have at hand. By choosing this option, your application for a Canada ETA is processed within 24 hours, and the cost is USD 47.49.
- Rush processing – speeding things up a little, this option delivers your Canada Visa for German Citizens within just 4 hours. The cost, on the other hand, goes a little higher. You are charged USD 93.49.
- Super Rush processing – if you choose this option, you can apply for your Canada ETA on your way to the airport. Your application is processed within just 30 minutes, but you are charged USD 113.49.
When you get to the second step, you have to cover the payment and review your form to make sure that it does not contain inaccurate information. If it does, your ETA will be invalid, and you have to repeat the process. You can avoid that if you pay attention when you do the revision.
The third step focuses on supporting documents. iVisa.com will ask you to upload them. When you are done, submit your request, and iVisa.com will send you the confirmation in the timeframe you agreed on.
The bottom line is that while the citizens of France do not need a Canada visa, you must apply for a Canada ETA before your departure. The ETA is a document valid for 5 years after issued or until passport expires if that comes first. You can use it for Multiple Entry, and you can stay in Canada for up to 180 days Per Entry.
Yixi (Sophia) Li is the co-author of this article. She is a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) who has been working with an immigration law firm since 2016. She is also a licensed paralegal in Ontario and a notary public. She has a Masters of Law. In 2018, she founded Mainstay Immigration Law Firm and Yixi Li Legal Firm.