Canada among countries with most demanding travel requirements, report finds

OTTAWA — A new international report has found that Canada ranks among the most complicated countries in terms of travel and entry requirements, despite its global reputation as a destination that welcomes visitors and immigrants from around the world.

Canada received four points out of five in the 2026 travel obstacles index issued by VisaSyst, a platform specializing in visas and digital entry requirements.

The ranking covered ten countries with wealthy economies and focused on the electronic procedures travellers must complete before arrival, and on problems that could prevent them from boarding a plane.

The report said administrative complications can disrupt trips even when a traveller meets the basic entry requirements.

Canada receives four points out of five

The ranking showed the United States as the most complicated, with five points out of five.

Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia came in the next group, with four points each.

Japan and South Korea received three points, and China two points.

Germany, France and the Netherlands each scored one point, because the European travel authorization system ETIAS had not come into effect during the period covered by the report.

The authors of the index explained that the results do not reflect how welcoming countries are to visitors or the likelihood that visa applications will be approved. They measure instead how difficult the digital procedures are and how likely travellers are to run into problems before travelling.

Electronic travel authorization causes problems

The report identified Canada's Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) as one of the main sources of complications for air travel to Canada.

The authorization is required of many travellers who are exempt from the traditional entry visa when they plan to arrive in the country by air.

The requirement is not limited to people who want to visit Canada. It also applies to travellers who pass through Canadian airports on their way to other international destinations.

This means some passengers need a valid authorization even if they do not leave the airport terminal during their layover.

The report warned that overlooking this requirement can result in a traveller being barred from boarding, even with a confirmed ticket and other travel documents.

Who needs authorization to travel to Canada?

The Government of Canada states that entry requirements vary according to a traveller's nationality, mode of arrival and legal status.

U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA, as are lawful permanent residents of the United States, provided they carry the required documents.

Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, do not use the authorization and generally need a valid Canadian passport when travelling by air.

Permanent residents of Canada do not need an eTA, but they must carry a valid permanent resident card or a permanent resident travel document, depending on the case.

Citizens of some countries that otherwise require a visa can use the electronic authorization instead, if they meet the specific eligibility requirements for travelling by air.

Minor errors can lead to cancelled trips

The report warned that errors involving travel documents can take days or weeks to correct, especially when the passport details entered do not match the information used in the authorization application.

The problem grows when a traveller renews a passport without realizing that a new electronic authorization linked to the new passport number is required.

According to the Government of Canada, the fee for an eTA application is only seven Canadian dollars, and most applications are approved within minutes, though some cases may take longer or require additional documents.

For this reason, authorities advise applying through the official government website and not waiting until the departure date.

Advice for travellers to Canada

The report urged travellers to review entry requirements before booking flights, and to pay attention to the airports included in stopover and transit itineraries.

It also stressed the importance of checking that a passport is valid, confirming the type of visa or authorization required, and making sure the information recorded electronically matches.

The findings suggest that digital transformation of border procedures, while speeding up processing, can create new obstacles when travellers are not fully familiar with the rules.