May 25, 2026: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia can now fly to Canada with an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a visitor visa, a significant expansion of visa-free air travel tied to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Who qualifies
Citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia may apply for an eTA, rather than a temporary resident visa (TRV), if they are travelling to Canada by air and either:
- have held a Canadian TRV within the last 10 years, or
- hold a valid US non-immigrant visa at the time of application.
IRCC considers this group “known” travellers, because they have already been screened by Canada or the United States.
Who still needs a visa
All other citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia, and anyone arriving by car, bus, train or boat, still require a visitor visa. Travellers who need to work or study in Canada must still obtain the appropriate permit; the eTA only covers visits. Existing valid TRVs remain usable for travel.
What this means in practice, a lawyer’s view
For qualifying travellers, this removes weeks of TRV processing and replaces it with an eTA that is typically issued within minutes to days. That’s meaningful for business visitors, families visiting relatives, and tourists from two of Southeast Asia’s largest economies.
Three cautions are worth stating clearly:
- An eTA is not a guarantee of entry. Every traveller is still examined at the border, and admissibility issues, including criminal history, can still result in refusal at the port of entry.
- The eligibility test is precise. Applying for an eTA when you don’t qualify can lead to refusals that complicate your record.
- Canada has strengthened its cancellation powers. Since 2025, IRCC has expanded authorities to cancel eTAs, visas and permits in specific circumstances, compliance matters more than ever.
The change comes alongside Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific engagement, including the Canada–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and ongoing ASEAN–Canada free trade negotiations.
Source: IRCC Backgrounder, May 25, 2026
Unsure whether you qualify for an eTA or still need a visitor visa? See my visitor visa services or book a consultation.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different: book a consultation to discuss your situation.
About the author
Miguel Martins Pereirinha is a Canadian immigration lawyer and partner at Slayen Immigration Law in Vancouver, British Columbia. He practises Canadian immigration law exclusively — work permits, permanent residence, family sponsorship, citizenship and inadmissibility — and works with clients in English and Portuguese.
