Canada Visa for Samoan Citizens

Canada eTA for Samoan citizens

Canada eTA, introduced by the Government of Canada, is a pre-screening process that decides the eligibility of travellers entering Canada. The nationals of Canada visa-exempt countries which includes Samoan citizens are mandated to get Canada eTA. Instead of visiting the embassy or consulate to get a Canadian visa, Samoan citizens can opt for Canada eTA. The convenience of applying online makes the Canada eTA process simple, hassle-free and quick. The Canada eTA offers various advantages like multiple visits and five-year validity.

Canada eTA Requirement for Samoan Citizens

Citizens of Samoa travelling to Canada must obtain their Canada eTA for their trip. Meeting the requirements is essential to apply for Canada eTA. After verifying the eligibility, travellers must check whether their travel requirements align with Canada eTA. Following are the requirements of Canada eTA.

• Samoan Citizens must get their Canada eTA before their flight departure, preferably 3 (three) days before.
• Canada eTA permits travellers to enter Canada for tourism purposes and business activities (meetings, conferences, trade fairs, etc.).
• Samoan Citizens need Canada eTA to transit through Canada.
• Samoan nationals visiting their family members or friends in Canada can apply for Canada eTA (if they meet the eligibility criteria).
• Canada eTA can be used for short-term training or academic purposes (the duration should not exceed 6 months).

Only the nationals of Samoa with Samoan passports are eligible for Canada eTA. Permanent residents of Samoa who do not have a Samoan passport cannot apply for Canada eTA.

Do all Samoan Citizens need Canada eTA?

Need for Canada eTA totally depends on their travel requirements and citizenship. Samoan citizens who already have a valid Canadian visa are exempted from Canada eTA. As mentioned, Samoan citizens entering Canada by seaport or land are exempted from needing a Canada eTA.

Samoan citizens who have dual Samoan-Canadian citizenship (and are permanent residents of Canada) can enter Canada using their Canadian passport without getting a Canada eTA.

Documents Required for Canada eTA

Collecting the required documents for the Canada eTA is a simple but crucial process. Visitors do not have to worry about the documents because applying for Canada eTA only requires minimal documents. Refer to the list below to get the documents before the Canada eTA application process.

• A passport (validity of the passport is important)
• Email ID
• Valid online payment options like a Debit or Credit card

Check the validity of each document to make sure they meet the Canada eTA requirements. Please note that sometimes additional documents might be required, travellers are advised to be prepared for it.

Stay Duration in Canada for Nationals of Samoa

Checking the Canada eTA permitted duration of stay is essential to planning the travel itinerary and booking the return tickets. Samoan citizens travelling to Canada via Canada eTA can enjoy a six month stay with multiple visits from the date of their arrival. They can plan their stay within six months and in case of multiple entries, the six-month stay duration applies to each entry.

Canada eTA is valid only for short stays, Samoan citizens intended for long stays must check the appropriate Canadian visa that aligns with their Canada trip duration.

Application Processing Time of Canada eTA

Knowing the Canada eTA application processing time benefits in submitting the application at the right time. The process usually takes up to three days (or 24 to 72 hours). Mostly, the applications will be processed within the approximate time, but unexpected delays might happen. Travellers are advised to submit their application as early as possible to get it approved within their intended travel date.

Steps to Apply for a Canada eTA

Applying for Canada eTA will take upto 10 (ten) minutes. Knowing the Canada eTA application process helps travellers stay ahead and complete the application form without any hassles. The steps to apply for Canada eTA are mentioned below.

Canada eTA Validity for Samoan Citizens

The validity of Canada eTA is one of the best advantages for travellers. Canada eTA is valid for a long period which is five years starting from its issuance date. Please note that the validity of Canada eTA is also linked with the traveller’s passport. The expiry of Canada eTA is 5 (five) years or until the applicant’s passport expiry (whichever appears first). Applying for a new passport necessitates Samoan citizens to apply for a new Canada eTA.

The multiple visits and long-term validity are advantages for frequent travellers, but ensure to check the validity before boarding the flight. Travelling with an invalid or unapproved Canada eTA can result in entry denial at a Canadian airport.

Canada eTA Extension for Samoan Citizens

Extending the stay mandates travellers to initiate the stay extension process using Visitor Record. Canada eTA is only for short visits (up to six months). Samoan citizens who are in a situation where they need to extend their stay in Canada must apply for a Visitor Record. Travellers must start the extension process before the expiration of their current Canada eTA. A Visitor Record is not an eTA or Canadian visa, it is a valid document that is issued to extend travellers stay in Canada (beyond the authorized stay duration).

Travellers must fill out an application form for the extension process and pay the required fee. It is also important that travellers must leave Canada within the provided extension date.

Steps to Follow in Case of Canada eTA Rejection

At times, travellers might face rejection of the Canada eTA application. Knowing the common mistakes that lead to Canada eTA application denial help travellers avoid them. Some of the common errors are mentioned below.

• Submitting an incomplete application form
• Poor immigration history or criminal record
• Providing incorrect information
• Submitting invalid documents

Avoid Common eTA Application Mistakes

Although the Canada eTA Application process is generally simple, it is beneficial to familiarize yourself with the essential requirements and avoid the common mistakes detailed below.

• Passport numbers are almost always 8 to 11 characters. If you are entering a number that is too short or too long or outside of this range, it is quite likely that you are entering a wrong number.
• Enter information without hyphens, spaces, or special characters (like shown below in the image)
• Another common error is swapping letter O and number 0 or letter I and the number 1.
• Name related issue like
  • Full name: Name put in Canada eTA application must match the name exactly as given in the Passport. You can look at MRZ strip in your Passport information page to make sure you have entered the full name, including any middle-names.
  • Do not include previous names: Do not include any part of that name in brackets or previous names. Again, consult the MRZ strip.
  • Non-english name: Your name must be in English characters. Do not use non-English characters like Chinese/Hebrew/Greek alphabets to spell your name.
  • Learn more at How To Enter a Name On the Canada eTA Application

Enter Passport Number without spaces and Full name as given on MRZ strip

Benefits of the ArriveCAN app

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) designed the ArriveCAN app. The app entitles travellers (entering Canada) to submit their immigration and customs declaration online up to three days (72 hours) before their arrival in Canada. Samoan citizens can use the advance declaration via the ArriveCAN app for various Canadian airports. It helps to have a smooth and fast entry process.

Activities and attractions for Samoan Citizens in Canada

• Paradise For Photographers, Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park
• Admire The Natural Beauty of Perce Rock, Quebec
• Explore The Highest Falls, Montmorency Falls, Québec
• Skiing Activities, Mont Tremblant, Quebec
• Ice Skate on Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Banff
• Cliff Dive at Horseshoe Lake, Jasper National Park
• Sleep in an Ice Hotel, Quebec
• Try Ice Fishing, Arctic territory of Nunavut
• Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, Ontario
• Sea North Tours, Churchill River
• Miniature World, Victoria, British Columbia

Apply for Canada eTA at least 72 hours before your flight to Canada.