The short answer: an Austrian citizen who is flying to Canada needs an eTA, the electronic travel authorization from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and it costs 7 CAD. The Government of Canada gives Austrian passport holders their own instructions: most Austrian passport numbers are 8 characters long, made of 1 letter and 7 numbers. Include any preceding characters, remove any spaces and do not enter special characters such as a hyphen.
Austrian travellers do not need a visitor visa for a short stay in Canada, but the eTA is still compulsory before boarding a flight. If you want the background first, read what a Canada eTA is and then come back to the parts that are specific to an Austrian passport.
Do Austrian citizens need an eTA for Canada?
Yes, for air travel. The eTA replaces the visa for visa-exempt travellers, and airlines check for it at check-in. It applies to a flight that ends in Canada and to a flight where you change planes at a Canadian airport. It is linked electronically to your passport, so nothing is posted to you and nothing is stamped in the passport.
It is not a guarantee of entry: a border services officer decides whether you may enter each time you arrive. It also gives no right to work or study. If IRCC approves a work permit or a study permit for you, an eTA is issued automatically with it, so you do not apply separately.
If you also hold Canadian citizenship, you cannot apply for an eTA and must travel on your Canadian passport. The guide for dual nationals explains it in detail.
How is an Austrian passport number built?
The government instructions for Austrian passport holders say:
- Most Austrian passport numbers are 8 characters long.
- They include 1 letter and 7 numbers.
- Make sure you include any preceding characters, and remove any spaces.
- Do not enter any special characters, such as a hyphen.
Canada’s general passport guidance adds that the number to use is the one at the top of the passport information page, the page with your photograph. Passport numbers combine letters and numbers, so be careful with the letter O and the digit 0, and with the letter I and the digit 1. If the number you plan to enter is much shorter or longer than usual, check that you are using the right one.
| Check | What it should look like for Austria |
|---|---|
| Length | Usually 8 characters |
| Composition | 1 letter and 7 numbers |
| Spaces | None: remove them |
| Hyphens and other symbols | None |
| Preceding characters | Include them |
| Where to find it | Top of the passport information page |
A number that has 8 characters but three letters in it, or 7 characters and no letter, deserves a second look. It is easy to drop the letter at the start or to type an O in place of a zero. For the full list of ways the number goes wrong, see what happens if you enter the wrong passport number.
Why does one wrong character matter so much?
The eTA is tied to the passport number and the country code you enter. The airline checks the passport you present against that record. The Government of Canada warns that if you enter a wrong passport number or country code, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada. You may only find out at the airport, you would have to reapply for an eTA there, and depending on your situation it may not be possible to get an eTA at the last minute. The application cannot be edited after you submit it, so the reliable fix is a new application with correct details.
That is why the check before you pay is worth a full minute: put the passport next to the screen and compare the number character by character.
Which country code should an Austrian choose?
The form asks you to select the code that matches the one on the passport information page. Look for the field named “Code”, “Issuing country” or “Authority”. Some countries have several options in the list and some codes are similar, so choose with care and copy what your passport shows. The country code guide lists the unusual ones.
What do you need before you start?
The form cannot be saved and you have a limited time to complete it. Prepare these:
- Your Austrian passport, open at the photo page.
- An email address you can open now. IRCC contacts you by email only; check your junk folder.
- A payment card. Canada accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express, prepaid versions of those, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB.
- Your employment details and honest answers to the background questions about refusals, criminal offences and tuberculosis.
The form is available in English and French only, with descriptions of each field in German and 17 other languages. For a German-speaking applicant, the German field descriptions open beside the form are the easiest safety net. The step-by-step field guide walks through the sections in order.
Each traveller applies and pays separately, including children. The page on minor children covers who fills in a form for a child.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The government fee is 7 CAD per traveller, paid by card when you submit, and it is not refunded, whatever the outcome. Most applications are decided within minutes. Some need more documents and take several days, so apply well before you book anything you cannot cancel.
When the screen shows “Transaction Approved”, that confirms payment only; the decision arrives by email. Print or save the payment receipt immediately, because the form does not let you print it later or send you a copy.
How long does the eTA last?
An approved eTA stays valid for up to five years, or for less if your passport expires sooner, and it covers repeated short visits while it lasts. When you renew your Austrian passport, the old eTA no longer matches the new document and you need to apply again. Check the expiry date first: a passport with a year left gives an eTA of one year at most.
Should you apply yourself or use a service?
You pay only 7 CAD if you apply yourself on canada.ca. If you prefer a paid service that guides you through the form, get-eta.com is a paid private service, clearly separate from the Government of Canada, where you can start your eTA application. IRCC decides either way, and anything above 7 CAD is the service’s own fee.
Frequently asked questions
Do Austrian citizens need a visa for Canada? Not for a short visit. They need an eTA for air travel.
How long is an Austrian passport number? Most are 8 characters: 1 letter and 7 numbers.
Do I include spaces or hyphens? No. Remove spaces and do not enter special characters.
Is the form available in German? The form itself is in English and French only. Descriptions of each field are available in German.
Can I edit the application after I submit it? No. If you find a mistake, apply again with the correct details.
The short version
- Austrian citizens flying to Canada need an eTA; the government fee is 7 CAD.
- An Austrian passport number is usually 8 characters: 1 letter and 7 numbers.
- Include any preceding characters, and remove spaces and hyphens.
- Choose the country code that matches the passport information page.
- Print or save the payment receipt at once; each traveller needs their own application.
- A new passport means a new eTA.
For the live rules, see the Government of Canada page on how to apply for an eTA.