Jakarta. Canada has officially eased visa rules for Indonesians.

Indonesians who have held a Canadian temporary resident visa (TRV) in the last 10 years may visit Canada with an electronic travel authorization (eTA). This bypasses the need for a visa when traveling to or transiting through Canada by air.

This scheme is also available for Indonesians who currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa and have therefore previously been screened by Canada or the US. People who already have a valid TRV can continue to use it to travel to Canada.

The eTA costs only CAD 7 (around $5) and is entirely online. This policy is expected to boost bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, education, culture, and people-to-people contact. This is also timely ahead of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

According to the Indonesian Embassy in Canada, this implementation reaffirms Jakarta's positive image as a low-risk country in terms of security and immigration. It is is crucial for enhancing Canada's bilateral relations with partner countries and the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific regions.

eTAs are typically granted to developed countries that are traditional partners of Canada, such as European countries.

Canadian Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab recently held a virtual meeting with Indonesian Ambassador to Canada Muhsin Syihab. Diab hoped that the eTA would positively impact bilateral ties.

Ambassador Muhsin Syihab thanked the Canadian government.

"The implementation of the eTA embodies the ease of travel cooperation discussed during President Prabowo's visit to Canada in September 2025," Ambassador Muhsin Syihab said.

The eTA is generally only valid for air travel, not for travel by land or water.

While the eTA guarantees a smooth boarding process at the departure airport, travelers will still undergo screening at the arrival airport. The eTA is also only permitted for short visits, not for long-term migration (e.g., transferring for study or work) to Canada.

Click on this link to find out more about the eTA.

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