You submitted your eTA application, the payment went through, and you got a confirmation that your submission was received — but days have passed and your inbox is empty. Before you assume something went wrong, there’s a clear sequence of steps to work through, and most situations resolve quickly once you know where to look.
The short answer: check your junk folder first, then use the official eTA status tool to find out exactly where your application stands. The email is often there but filtered; and even if it isn’t, the status tool will tell you whether you’re approved, still pending, or need to take further action. The email is useful, but it isn’t the authoritative record — the status tool is.
The Typical Timeline After Your eTA Application
In most cases, you’ll receive an email about your eTA within minutes of applying. That’s the normal outcome: fast, automatic, done. But some applications require additional review, and when that happens, the system is designed to send you a follow-up email within 72 hours outlining next steps. So “several days” is within the expected range for a small number of applications — it doesn’t mean your application is lost.
What the email contains matters too. When your eTA is approved, the notification includes your eTA number. That number is worth keeping: you’ll need it if you ever want to check your status or contact IRCC about your application. If you do eventually find the email, copy that number somewhere safe. For a fuller explanation of what the approval email looks like and what each part means, the Canada eTA approval email explained guide covers it in detail.
The eTA itself is electronically linked to your passport — there’s no document to print. When you check in for your flight, airline staff scan your passport and confirm the eTA is valid. The email is a notification; the actual authorisation lives in the system tied to your passport number.
First Steps: Checking for a Missed Approval Email
Before concluding your email never arrived, do this properly:
1. Check every folder in the account you used to apply. Spam filters sometimes intercept automated government emails. The junk or spam folder is the most common place a missing eTA email turns up. Check it in the email client you normally use, and also log into the webmail version of your account — some filters catch mail before it reaches your app.
2. Search by sender domain, not subject line. Search your inbox for “canada.ca” or “ircc” rather than guessing at a subject line. Automated emails sometimes have subject lines that aren’t obvious.
3. Confirm you applied with the right email address. This is more common than it sounds. A typo in the email field during application — a transposed letter, a missing dot — means the email went somewhere else entirely. If you’re not certain which address you used, think back to what you had open at the time, or check any browser autofill entries.
4. If you changed your email address after applying, you’ll need to update it using the web form provided for that purpose. An approval email sent to a defunct address won’t reach you, but your application status is unaffected — it’s still in the system.
Using the eTA Status Tool: Your Definitive Check
Once you’ve done the inbox search, the status tool is your next move — and honestly, it’s the most reliable source regardless of what your inbox shows. The tool gives you real-time information on both pending applications and the status of an existing eTA.
To use it, go to the IRCC application status page and select “Electronic travel authorization (eTA)” as the application type. You’ll need your application details to look up your record.
What the tool will show you, and what to do:
| Status shown | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | Your eTA is valid and linked to your passport | Confirm the passport number matches; no email needed to travel |
| Pending | Your application is still being reviewed | Wait; check again after 72 hours from submission |
| Not approved | Your application was refused | Check your email for the reason given; consider whether reapplication is appropriate |
The status tool is the definitive check. An approval shown here means you can travel — the email is a convenience, not a requirement at the airport.
What to Do If Your eTA Status is ‘Approved’ But You Have No Email
This is actually the easiest situation to be in. Your eTA is valid. The email is a notification of that approval, not the approval itself. The authorisation is electronically tied to your passport, and when airline staff scan your passport at check-in, they’ll see a valid eTA regardless of whether you ever received an email.
Two things to do anyway:
First, note your eTA number from the status tool if it’s displayed. Keep it somewhere accessible — you’ll want it if you ever need to contact IRCC or check in on a future application.
Second, verify that the passport number associated with your eTA exactly matches the number in your physical passport. This is worth doing carefully. The eTA is linked to the specific passport you used when you applied, so if there’s any discrepancy — even a single character — you won’t be able to board. If the numbers don’t match, you’ll need to reapply with the correct passport number. More on that below.
Addressing ‘Pending’ or ‘Not Approved’ eTA Statuses
If your status is pending: The system is still processing your application. This is normal for a portion of applications, and the expectation is that you’ll receive an email with next steps within 72 hours of applying. If you’re well past that window and the status is still pending, the eTA application still pending after the usual timeframe guide walks through what to do next in detail.
If your flight is approaching and your application is still pending, don’t wait. It may not be possible to get an eTA at the last minute depending on your situation. Act early rather than hoping it resolves itself.
If your status is not approved: The tool or a follow-up email will indicate the reason. Read it carefully — some refusals are based on information that can be corrected in a new application, while others reflect eligibility issues that won’t change by reapplying.
Next Steps If You Need to Reapply or Provide More Information
If you’ve determined that your application didn’t go through, that a passport number error needs correcting, or that your application was refused and you want to try again, here’s the practical path:
Wrong passport number: This is a common and consequential error. If the number you entered doesn’t match your actual passport, you need to submit a new application with the correct number. The old application can’t be amended after submission. Because the eTA is electronically linked to the passport number you provided, travelling on a mismatched passport means you won’t have a valid eTA — and you won’t be allowed to board. The Canada eTA wrong passport number page covers the specific steps for this scenario.
Application didn’t register: If the status tool shows no record and you believe you completed the process, it’s possible the application didn’t submit correctly — perhaps the payment didn’t go through, or a session timed out. In that case, submit a new application. Apply with enough lead time before your flight; last-minute applications carry real risk if anything needs additional review.
Providing more information: If the email or status tool indicates that IRCC needs additional documentation or information from you, follow the instructions given precisely. Delays at this stage are often caused by applicants not responding to requests, or responding with incomplete information.
Common Mistakes That Cause Exactly This Problem
1. Applying with a mistyped email address. The application goes through, the eTA is approved, and the email disappears into an address that doesn’t exist. The fix is to use the status tool — but the smarter move is to double-check the email field before submitting. It’s a simple field and easy to rush.
2. Assuming “no email” means “no approval.” The email is a notification. Some people reapply unnecessarily because they didn’t receive it, ending up with duplicate applications and confusion about which one is valid. Always check the status tool before taking any further action.
3. Not checking junk mail at all. Spam filters treat automated government emails as suspicious. This is the single most common reason people can’t find their approval email — it’s sitting in junk and they never looked.
4. Entering the wrong passport number. An eTA approved against the wrong passport number is useless for travel. The airline scans your actual passport; if the number doesn’t match the eTA on file, you’re denied boarding. Always verify the passport number on your application matches your physical document character by character.
5. Leaving it too close to the flight. Most eTAs are approved within minutes, but some take several days. If you apply two days before departure and your application goes into extended review, you may not have enough time to resolve it. Apply well in advance — this is especially important if you think you might need to reapply.
FAQ
How long does an eTA application usually take to process? Most applications are decided within minutes, and the approval email arrives almost immediately. When an application needs more review, you can expect an email with next steps within 72 hours of applying. Some requests do take several days to fully process.
Can I travel to Canada if my eTA is approved but I don’t have the email? Yes. The eTA is electronically linked to your passport, and airline staff confirm it by scanning your passport at check-in. You don’t need to present the email or any printed document. The status tool confirmation is sufficient to know you’re good to travel.
What if I made a mistake on my eTA application? If the error is in the passport number, you need to reapply with the correct number — the existing application can’t be corrected. For other types of information errors, if you change your email address after applying for an eTA, you must update it online using a web form.
Will I be notified if my eTA application is denied? Yes, you’ll receive an email. The status tool will also show a “not approved” status. The notification will include information about the reason, which you should read carefully before deciding whether to reapply.
What’s the difference between an eTA and a visa? An eTA is an electronic authorisation linked to your passport — there’s no stamp, sticker, or document involved. It’s required for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air. A visa is a physical or digital document issued after a separate application process, required for nationals of countries not covered by the eTA program. The what is a Canada eTA page explains the distinction in full.
After You’ve Resolved Your eTA Status
Once you’ve confirmed your eTA is approved and your passport number matches, there’s nothing further to do before your flight. Airline staff will scan your passport at check-in and confirm the eTA automatically — no printout, no email, no separate document needed. Keep your eTA number somewhere accessible in case you need to contact IRCC in the future, and make sure you travel on the same passport you used when you applied.
If you’ve applied and haven’t heard back, the junk folder and the status tool cover the vast majority of cases. An approved status in the tool means you’re cleared to fly — the email is secondary. If your status is pending and your travel date is close, act now rather than waiting to see if it resolves: last-minute situations can become genuinely unresolvable. Check the status tool at the Canada eTA status and application page, confirm your passport number matches, and take the next step that fits your situation.