OTTAWA: A significant travel path was introduced by Canada on May 26 when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada made an official announcement that citizens from Indonesia and Malaysia will now be allowed to visit Canada without requiring a visa. Visa exemption to Canada from Indonesia and Malaysia requires the substitution of the traditional visa system with an electronic travel authorization that simplifies the access to Canada for tourists coming from these important Southeast Asian nations.
This immigration reform was presented as a part of the wider Canada’s Indo-Pacific policy by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. “Canada is working to attract the world’s best and brightest minds, strengthen global relationships and build new opportunities for Canadians,” she stated on Monday.
Canada Visa Free Indonesia Malaysia Program
The Canada visa free Entry Indonesia Malaysia process takes place via the electronic travel authorisation program rather than by applying for a regular visa. Individuals who qualify as eligible citizens from Indonesia and Malaysia under certain requirements apply for an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) associated with their passports instead of going through a complicated visa application process.
The fee for applying for an eTA is only seven dollars, its validity period is as long as five years or until the expiration of the passport used for travel, and it enables the individual to be in Canada for up to six months per trip. The government of Canada uses the system of eTA to screen individuals who will fly to Canada before boarding the plane.
Who is Eligible for the Canada Visa Free Indonesia Malaysia Route
The Canada visa free Indonesia Malaysia route eligibility requirements apply to those travelers that are considered to have undergone prior screening either in Canada or the United States since this is what the eligibility criteria revolve around. Therefore, Indonesian and Malaysian passport holders that have had a previous Canadian visa or currently possess a valid U.S. visa fall within the scope of those eligible under the new eligibility criteria for eTA.
This basis of pre-screening is indicative of the strategy adopted by IRCC when extending visa-free access without jeopardizing security at its borders – passengers accessing Canada through the eTA program have already undergone screening by the immigration departments of either Canada or America, thus rendering an application for a visa superfluous.
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More Countries on Visa Free Travel to Canada List
Inclusion of Indonesia and Malaysia in the Canada visa free Indonesia Malaysia list builds on an already established list of countries whose citizens are able to enter Canada via the eTA process without having to apply for visas. In addition to Indonesia and Malaysia, other countries that qualify include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
Indonesia being included into the visa-free travel program has a lot of economic implications. With Indonesia having the biggest economy in the Southeast Asian region, there is an indication that Indonesia can be a major source of tourists, students, and investors, who will find it much easier to travel to Canada, and this will help deepen the bilateral ties that are sought by the Indo-Pacific strategy. It is estimated that last year, Canada received about 18,300 visitors from Indonesia and 11,500 from Malaysia.
What Travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia Should Do Now
With the recent Canada visa free Indonesia Malaysia, those who qualify from the two countries can apply for an eTA now instead of having to wait for their visa application to be approved. Applying for an eTA now costs only $7 and is completed online, which is much quicker compared to getting a visa.
The visitors who are not eligible for an electronic travel authorization include those without a history of having been screened by either the Canadian or US government previously. According to the IRCC, every traveller needs to be informed whether he/she is eligible to apply by checking with Immigration Canada.
