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Known travellers from 13 more countries can skip visa to come to Canada: minister

The expanded list of countries includes Thailand, Philippines, Costa Rica and others
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Travellers from the 13 countries can qualify for the faster, cheaper option if they have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a non-immigrant visa to the United States. | Rob Kruyt, BIV

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says low-risk travellers from 13 more countries will be able to skip a visa application if they want to visit Canada.

An expanded program would allow people to instead apply for an electronic travel authorization: a digital travel document that costs $7 and can be processed in minutes.

Travellers from the 13 countries can qualify for the faster, cheaper option if they have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a non-immigrant visa to the United States.

Canada tried the idea as a pilot project in 2017, starting with visitors from Brazil, Bulgaria and Romania.

The expanded list of countries includes Thailand, Philippines, Costa Rica and others.

Fraser says the new process will not only make things easier for travellers to Canada, but will also take the pressure off a backlog of visa applications.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2023.

The Canadian Press