The short answer: a German 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 detail that trips up German applicants is the country code: in the application form, Germany is listed as “D (Germany, Federal Republic Of)”, a single letter, and not as DEU. Choose the code that matches the one printed on your passport information page.
German travellers do not need a visitor visa for a short stay in Canada, but the eTA is compulsory before boarding a flight. If you want the background first, read what a Canada eTA is, then return here for the parts that are specific to a German passport.
Do German citizens need an eTA for Canada?
Yes, for air travel. The eTA replaces the visa for visa-exempt travellers, and the airline checks for it at check-in. It applies to a flight that ends in Canada and also 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.
An eTA is not a guarantee of entry: a border services officer decides whether you may enter each time you arrive. It also does not give permission to work or study. If IRCC approves a work permit or 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 dual nationals guide explains which passport to use.
Why is Germany listed as D?
The passport country of issue field in the form is a drop-down list, and it follows the codes used in travel documents rather than the three-letter codes many people know. For Germany the entry reads “D (Germany, Federal Republic Of)”. A traveller who scrolls to “DEU” will not find it, and a traveller who searches by the word “Germany” may need to look for the entry that starts with the letter D.
The government instructions tell you to select the code that matches the one on the passport information page, the page with your photo. To find it, look at the field named “Code”, “Issuing country” or “Authority”. On a German passport this field carries the single letter D. Copy what the passport shows and do not work it out from the country name.
Other entries in the list are also unusual, such as six separate entries for British nationals and three for China. The country code guide explains them. The list holds passport-issuing authorities from all over the world, including those whose citizens need a visa rather than an eTA, so appearing in it does not mean you are eligible.
Which passport number do you enter?
Enter the passport number exactly as it appears on the passport information page. The general instructions add these points, which apply to a German passport as much as to any other:
- The number is at the top of the passport information page, the page with your photograph.
- Most passport numbers are 6 to 9 characters long. If the number you plan to enter is much shorter or longer, check that you are using the right one.
- Passport numbers combine letters and numbers, so take care with the letter O and the digit 0, and with the letter I and the digit 1.
- Do not enter special characters such as a hyphen, or spaces.
The form asks you to enter the number twice, so a typo in one field is caught by the other, but a consistent mistake in both is not. The Government of Canada warns that if you enter the 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 a last-minute eTA may not be possible. If that has already happened, what to do with a wrong passport number explains the recovery path.
| Field | What a German applicant should check |
|---|---|
| Passport number | Copy from the top of the photo page; no spaces or hyphens |
| Country of issue | The code on the passport, which is D for Germany |
| Surname and given names | Exactly as printed on the passport |
| Passport expiry | Matches the date on the passport |
What should be on the desk before you open the form?
You cannot save the form and come back later, so gather everything first. That means the German passport open at the photo page, an inbox you can check straight away (IRCC writes by email only, junk folder included), and a card from the accepted list: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, their prepaid versions, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay or JCB. You will also need your job details and honest answers to the background questions on refusals, criminal offences and tuberculosis.
The form is available in English and French only. Descriptions of each field are available in German among 18 languages, and a help guide is published in German too, so a German speaker can keep the German explanation open next to the English form. The field-by-field guide walks through the sections in order.
Each traveller applies and pays separately, including children, so a family of four completes four applications. The page on minor children explains who fills in a child’s form.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
Budget 7 CAD per traveller, charged to the card at submission and not returned if the answer is no. Many decisions arrive within minutes, while others wait on extra documents for several days. Leave yourself a comfortable margin before any non-refundable booking.
“Transaction Approved” on the payment screen confirms only the payment; the eTA decision arrives by email. Print or save the payment receipt at once, because the form does not let you print it later or send you a copy.
How long does the eTA last?
Validity runs for up to five years, cut short if the passport ends earlier. Because the eTA belongs to one passport, a renewed German passport needs its own new eTA. A quick look at the expiry date before you apply tells you how long the result can last.
Should you apply yourself or use a service?
Applying on canada.ca yourself costs only the 7 CAD government fee. Travellers who would rather be guided can use get-eta.com, a paid private service that is clearly separate from the Government of Canada, and start the eTA application there; the decision is IRCC’s in both cases and the service charges its own fee on top.
Frequently asked questions
Do German citizens need a visa for Canada? Not for a short visit. They need an eTA for air travel.
Why can I not find DEU in the list? Germany is listed as “D (Germany, Federal Republic Of)”. Use the code shown on your passport.
Is the eTA form available in German? The form is in English and French only. Field descriptions and a help guide are available in German.
What if I spot a typo after paying? Apply again with the correct details, because a submitted application cannot be changed.
Do I need an eTA if I arrive by land or sea? Generally no, but an eTA is needed for air travel, including a connection in Canada.
The short version
- German citizens flying to Canada need an eTA; the government fee is 7 CAD.
- In the form, Germany is listed as D, not DEU.
- Copy the passport number from the top of the photo page, with no spaces or hyphens.
- A wrong number or code may stop you from boarding, so compare both with the passport.
- Print or save the payment receipt at once; each traveller, including every child, needs their own application.
- A new passport means a new eTA.
The official steps are on the Government of Canada page on how to apply for an eTA.