ETIAS requirements for Canadian citizens to Europe

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is an automated programme aimed at identifying possible risks related to visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen Area. This visa waiver for Europe can be obtained by completing the online application form.

Visa requirements for Canadian citizens to Europe

The ETIAS visa waiver requirements for Canadian citizens are as follows.

  • Canadian passport valid for at least 3 months past the intended departure date from the Schengen Area
  • A debit or credit card to pay for the ETIAS application fee
  • A current email address to receive the approved visa waiver

You will need to complete the following information throughout the application process to meet the ETIAS entry requirements for Europe:

  • Complete name: surname(s), first name(s)
  • Date of birth/place and country of birth
  • Gender
  • Address of your personal residence/email address and telephone number
  • Member state of intended entry/nationality
  • Education and/or current occupation

Required information for ETIAS travel authorisation

Canadian citizens and other third-country nationals visiting Europe will be expected to register and apply ETIAS online ahead of departure. To do so successfully, applicants must meet the ETIAS visa waiver requirements for Canadian citizens.

Among the prerequisites, the travellers will have to provide their passport details, complete personal data, and answer a series of security questions about background and eligibility.

The questions will refer to medical conditions, criminal records, and any previous immigration or travel history that resulted in the applicant being deported or rejected from an EU member country.

The Canadian citizen must meet the ETIAS visa waiver requirements and obtain it before travelling to the Schengen zone, the absence of an approved ETIAS will result in denied entry to the region. By ensuring that all foreign visitors are checked prior to their arrival, the ETIAS will be a tool to identify individuals who might pose a security threat or are an irregular migration risk for the region.

Required documents for Canadians travelling to Europe

Canadian citizens who wish to travel to any of the countries in the Schengen zone for short-term stays of up to 90 days will be required to have an ETIAS visa waiver before departure. Citizens of Canada should carefully check the ETIAS requirements to obtain the travel authorisation for Europe.

The ETIAS programme will be rolled out in 2026. Once it becomes available, it will be mandatory for travellers from eligible countries to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver for Europe.

Recieve an approved ETIAS after meeting the requirements will allow the visitor to move freely within Schengen member countries. Travellers can visit any nation in the free travel area with this form of travel authorisation for Europe. Canadian citizens who wish to travel to Europe will need a valid passport when you apply for an ETIAS.

ETIAS is not a visa, it is a visa waiver is a programme designed by the EU to monitor and screen travellers from visa-exempt countries in order to protect the region and its people. There are more than 50 nationalities, including Canada, that will be expected to enrol for a travel authorisation.

Which passport should I use to apply for ETIAS with dual Canadian nationality?

Most Canadians will just use their Canadian passport to apply for ETIAS. Holding more than one passport will not make the application process more difficult.

Canadians with dual nationality will have the option of using their Canadian passport or their other passport (assuming it has been issued by another country also eligible for ETIAS.) Travellers must utilize the same passport used in the application to enter Europe and the document must have been issued by one of the ETIAS-eligible countries.

The ETIAS authorisation will be valid for 3 years (unless the traveller’s passport expires before.) It will not be possible to transfer the ETIAS visa waiver to another passport once it has been issued.

An ETIAS visa waiver expires when the registered passport does. Therefore, applicants with more than one eligible passport will have the advantage of being able to use the passport with the most time remaining. If both passports have more than 3 years of validity left, this will not make a difference.

ETIAS visa waiver requirement for Canadian children

The European Commission has created the European Travel Authorisation to monitor travellers from visa-exempt countries who wish to visit the European territories in the Schengen Area.

When the system launches in 2026 it will be obligatory for travellers of all ages, including children. Any children entering the European Union from a third country, such as Canada, will also need to travel with an ETIAS.

Children who wish to travel to the EU should have the proper documentation, including a valid passport. In some cases, children might need an extra official document signed by their parents, second parent, or legal guardian(s) authorising them to travel. However, the EU does not have a unified rule for children. Each member country decides whether or not it requires such documents.