Islamabad
Canada has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or transiting through Canada.
A press statement issued by the Canadian embassy on Wednesday advises travellers who need an eTA to fly to or transit through Canada to use only the official Government of Canada website (www.canada.ca/eTA) to obtain this travel document. An eTA costs CAN$7. Travellers should be cautious of other sites that appear legitimate but are charging more than CAN$7 to submit eTA applications.
It says that’s since the Government of Canada started phasing in the eTA requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals on August 1, 2015, a number of companies have established websites to charge additional fees to provide information and submit eTA applications on behalf of travellers. The Canadian government has warned that these companies are not operating on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Individuals flying to Canada with a Pakistani passport require a valid visa pasted in their passport. A visa and an eTA are not the same document. The Government of Canada is aware that some third parties are selling fraudulent eTAs to Pakistani citizens. Travellers are advised that anyone attempting to fly to Canada with a Pakistani passport and an eTA will not be allowed to board the aircraft.
“We are very upset that unsuspecting Pakistani citizens are being cheated out of their hard-earned money by a handful of individuals selling fraudulent documents,” said Stuart Savage, Acting High Commissioner of Canada in the statement. “I strongly urge all Pakistani travellers to contact our official Visa Application Centres to get the right information so they do not become the victims of fraud.”
Information on visas for Canada is available through the website of the High Commission of Canada at www.pakistan.gc.ca. Travellers are also encouraged to consult our Visa Application Centres in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, by phone at +92-51-843-9344 or in person at 14-B, Sadiq Plaza, G-9 Markaz, Islamabad, Bahria Complex-IV, 4th Floor, Main Chaudhary Khaliq uz Zaman Road, Gizri, Clifton, Karachi and 20, ex-American Centre Building, opposite Ganga Ram Hospital, Queens Road, Lahore.
Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, are not eligible to apply for an eTA and are strongly encouraged to travel to Canada with a valid Canadian passport. Permanent residents of Canada are also not eligible to apply for an eTA, and, as always, need to show their permanent resident card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document, in addition to their valid foreign passport when travelling to Canada.
