One thing I hate when travelling are things like the USA ESTA progamme, Australia’s ETA programme, or things that pretend not to be a visa when they so blatantly are.
Well, it seems from April 2015, you’ll be asked to cough up C$7 for what they call an “eTA” to enter the Dominion of Canada.
The publicity blurb states that travellers will be able to apply online, and collect the basic information that is collected already in the immigration forms, with the application promised to be “quick and easy”, and having got an eTA, “travellers to Canada can expect faster service upon arrival at the border”
That I’ll believe when I see it with my own eyes.
Of course, security bods will love this as they can pre-screen who enters Canada.
The eTA charge of C$7, which will be valid is for five years. Introduction of the programme will commence from from April 2015, with publicity going into high gear from January 2015.
And this again, like the US ESTA programme – stinks of a money grabbing exercise by the Canadian government, with a vernier of security and the hope that your clearance time into Canada will be quicker.
Full publicity material at http://newsletters.canada.travel/archive/uk/2014-09-16_2015m45m11579.html
Although frankly, if you’re planning to go through Canada next year, budget a few extra coins for this.
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How much more can the CDN govt scxxw people with taxes and trust me those lines are only getting slower and $7 a head is not going to speed things up. Messy govt planning once again.
Oh wow $7… How can I plan a trip with this obstacle? Try Costa Rica or other Southern Countries where you have to pay in order to LEAVE the country…
Censorship? Perfect. So, I will repeat… $7 is not that bad, no need to cry. Try Costa Rica and a much bigger exit fee…
Try being in the air for 9 hours without wifi…
It’s tit for tat.. you’ve been titted… besides the rest of the world has to observe the obscene travellers fees that America has in place.