Passport validity rules for Canada
Canada doesn't enforce a 6-month rule — your passport just needs to cover your stay. Don't forget the eTA before you fly.
Canada: no six-month rule, but the eTA trips people up
Canada is refreshingly simple on passport validity — it just needs to cover the length of your stay. Immigration officers at Toronto Pearson, Vancouver and Calgary don't add a buffer, and the airline check at the departure airport uses the same rule via Timatic. What derails visitors instead is the Electronic Travel Authorisation.
The eTA is tied to a specific passport number. If you renew your passport between applying for the eTA and travelling, the eTA becomes invalid and you'll be refused boarding. There is no way to transfer it — you reapply, pay again, and wait for the new approval to come through. Same rule for land arrivals from the US and cruise stops in Halifax or Victoria.
Dual citizens (including Canadian-British and Canadian-American) must enter Canada on their Canadian passport — the eTA system will not issue one to a Canadian citizen. If your Canadian passport is expired, apply for a limited-validity travel document from the nearest Canadian consulate before booking.
Duration of stay only. Must be valid for the duration of your stay.
Verify with Government of Canada — entry requirements by countryCan I travel to Canada?
A date check based on the published entry rule — not a boarding guarantee.
What this means at the airport in Canada
- Major arrival points
- Toronto YYZ · Vancouver YVR · Montreal YUL · Calgary YYC
- Entry position
- UK and US passport holders visit visa-free; UK travellers arriving by air need an eTA linked to the passport they fly on.
- If you need to renew
- Renew before you apply for the eTA, not after — a new passport number invalidates the link and the airline system will reject it.
Entry allowances and validity requirements change. Verify before booking with Government of Canada — entry requirements by country. We summarise the rule and explain how it is applied in practice; we are not a government service. How we check and update this page.
Canada: your questions answered
- Do I need 6 months on my passport for Canada?
- No. Canada only requires your passport to be valid for the length of your stay. There is no 6-month rule for visiting Canada.
- Do I need an eTA for Canada?
- Most visa-exempt travellers (including UK, EU, Australian and NZ citizens) need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before flying. It costs CAD 7 and is valid for up to 5 years.
- Does the 6-month rule apply when I leave Canada?
- No — but if you're flying onward to a country with a 6-month rule (like the US), that destination's rule applies.
- Can I drive into Canada from the US with an expiring passport?
- Yes, provided the passport is valid for your stay. Land border crossings follow the same passport-validity rules as airports.
Next, if you're flying to Canada
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