The approval email has arrived. Before you close it and start packing, open it again — because the very first thing you need to do is check one specific detail against your physical passport. Everything else on this list matters, but a passport number mismatch can stop you from boarding the plane, and that problem needs to be caught now, not at the check-in desk.
Your eTA is electronically linked to the passport you used when you applied. Airline staff will scan that passport to confirm the eTA is valid. If the numbers don’t match, you won’t board. So before anything else: pull out your passport, find the document number, and compare it character by character with the number in your approval email.
Confirm Your eTA Details and Link to Passport
This is the step most people skip because approval feels like the finish line. It isn’t.
Step 1 — Open the approval email and locate your eTA number. Your approval email includes your eTA number. Save it somewhere accessible — a screenshot, a notes app, a printed copy tucked in your travel folder. You may need it if you ever contact authorities or need to check the status of your authorization.
Step 2 — Compare the passport number in the email with the number on your physical passport. They must match exactly. A single transposed digit means the eTA is linked to a passport number that doesn’t exist, and you may not be able to travel to Canada.
Step 3 — If there’s a mismatch, reapply immediately. There’s no way to edit an existing eTA after approval. You’ll need to submit a new application with the correct passport number. Getting a new eTA at the last minute may not be possible depending on your situation, so don’t let this sit.
The eTA is tied to one specific passport. You must present that exact passport at check-in — not a newer passport, not a different one.
If you’ve since renewed your passport and the eTA references your old passport number, read about correcting a wrong passport number on a Canada eTA before you assume you’re fine.
Step 4 — No printout needed. You don’t need to print your eTA approval email or carry any special document. The eTA lives in the system; the airline reads it from your passport scan.
Review Canada’s Entry Requirements and Travel Documents
An approved eTA is not a guarantee of entry. A border services officer will determine whether you meet all entry requirements when you arrive. Knowing what they’re looking for lets you prepare honestly.
The basic requirements for visiting Canada:
- A valid passport (the one linked to your eTA)
- No criminal or immigration-related convictions
- Good health
- Convincing evidence of ties to your home country — employment, property, family — that make it clear you’ll leave Canada when your authorized stay ends
- Enough money to cover your stay
Most visitors are allowed to stay for up to six months, though a border officer can limit or extend that based on the purpose of your visit.
Additional documents to gather before you travel:
| Situation | What to bring |
|---|---|
| Invited by a person or company in Canada | Invitation letter (an officer may ask for it) |
| Travelling with a child under 18 | Letter of authorization from absent parent(s) or guardian, plus supporting documents such as a birth certificate, adoption papers, or custody decree |
| Dual Canadian citizen | You must travel on a valid Canadian passport — an eTA does not apply to you |
If you’re a dual national sorting out which passport to use, that question has its own answer — see the guide on dual nationals and which passport to use for Canadian entry — and it’s worth reading before you check in.
Providing false or incomplete information at any point — on the application or to an officer — will result in being refused entry.
Prepare for Customs and Immigration Questions
At the border, the officer’s job is to confirm you’re who you say you are and that you have a legitimate reason for visiting. Being prepared makes that conversation shorter.
Know your answers before you land:
- Where are you staying? (Address of hotel, Airbnb, or host)
- How long are you planning to stay?
- What is the purpose of your visit?
- How much money do you have access to for the trip?
If you received an invitation letter, have it within reach in your carry-on rather than buried in checked luggage.
One practical option for air travellers: If you’re flying into one of the major Canadian airports — including Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax, Québec City, or Billy Bishop — you can submit your customs declaration up to 72 hours before arrival using the Advance Declaration app or online tool. Completing it in advance can reduce the time you spend at a kiosk or eGate on arrival.
Understand What You Can (And Cannot) Bring Into Canada
Customs rules catch people off guard more often than immigration questions do. A few things worth knowing:
Declare everything. Be ready to make a full and accurate declaration of all purchases, food, plant and animal products, and any firearms or weapons. If you’re carrying currency or monetary instruments equal to or over CAN$10,000, you must declare that too.
Don’t wrap gifts. An officer may need to inspect the contents, and wrapped packages slow that down or create suspicion. Leave gifts unwrapped until you’re through customs.
Cannabis is illegal to bring across the border in any form — including oils containing THC or CBD — without a permit or exemption from Health Canada. The fact that cannabis is legal inside Canada does not change this rule. Crossing the border with it, in either direction, is a criminal matter.
Pre-Travel Logistics: Flights, Accommodation, and Insurance
Do I need to print my eTA approval email? No. You don’t need to carry any printed eTA document. The authorization is stored electronically and linked to your passport. Airline staff confirm it by scanning your passport at check-in.
What if my passport number on the eTA doesn’t match my current passport? You’ll need to reapply for a new eTA using the correct passport number. There’s no way to amend an existing approval. If your travel is coming up soon, apply again immediately — last-minute eTA applications aren’t always possible to resolve in time.
How long is my eTA valid for? The official sources do not specify the validity period in a fixed number of years within the scope of this article; for the current validity window, the Canada.ca eTA after-apply page has the authoritative answer.
Can I enter Canada multiple times with the same eTA? Yes. The eTA covers multiple entries during its validity period, not a single trip. For a fuller explanation of how that works in practice, the article on Canada eTA multiple entries covers the details.
What if I’m transiting through Canada? The eTA requirement applies to air transit through Canadian airports as well as direct entry. If you’re connecting through Canada on your way somewhere else, you still need a valid eTA linked to the passport you’re travelling on.
Pre-Travel Logistics: Flights, Accommodation, and Insurance
The eTA itself doesn’t require any flight details — it’s linked to your passport, not a specific booking. That said, a few logistics are worth confirming before you fly.
Check that your flight still matches your passport. Your eTA doesn’t need updating if your flight changes, but your passport must still be the one linked to the eTA. If you’ve recently renewed your passport and used the new one for a flight booking, double-check which passport number is on the eTA.
Travel insurance is not a Canadian entry requirement, but it’s worth arranging before you leave. Provincial health care does not cover visitors, and medical costs in Canada without coverage can be significant.
Accommodation address. Have a confirmed address for your first night in Canada. Border officers routinely ask for it, and “I haven’t booked yet” is not an answer that builds confidence.
Common Mistakes That Cause Problems at the Border
1. Assuming the passport number is correct without checking. Most people who applied carefully still don’t verify the number after approval. A single digit error — a 0 instead of an O, a transposed pair — means the eTA is useless. Check it now. If it’s wrong, you’ll need to understand your options when the eTA has the wrong passport number and reapply before your departure.
2. Travelling with a newer passport. If you renewed your passport after getting your eTA, the eTA is still linked to the old passport number. You’d need to either travel with the old passport (if it’s still valid) or reapply with the new one. Showing up at check-in with a passport the system doesn’t recognise means you don’t board.
3. Assuming eTA approval means guaranteed entry. The eTA clears the airline check-in hurdle. The border officer is a separate decision-maker. Arriving without enough money, without clear ties to your home country, or with a criminal history that wasn’t fully disclosed can still result in being refused entry — even with a valid eTA in hand.
4. Packing cannabis or cannabis products. It’s legal in Canada, so people assume it’s fine to bring. It isn’t. Bringing cannabis across the Canadian border without a Health Canada permit is illegal regardless of direction or quantity.
5. Not declaring goods or currency at customs. Failing to declare food, animal products, or currency over CAN$10,000 can result in seizure, fines, or being flagged for secondary inspection. A full and accurate declaration takes seconds; the consequences of getting it wrong don’t.
The approval email marks the beginning of a short checklist, not the end of the process. Verify the passport number today, gather any supporting documents for your specific situation, and know what you’re bringing through customs. The border interview goes smoothly when none of the answers come as a surprise to you.