Some Filipinos are exempt from Canada, who is eligible?

Some Filipinos can now fly into their country visa-free, the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines announced Wednesday.

To qualify for visa-free entry, Filipino citizens must have held a Canadian visa within the last 10 years or a current valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa.

These eligible Filipinos do not need to apply for a visa, but simply apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA), which is the digital travel document required by most visa-free travelers to travel to or transit through Canada.

Canadian officials will use the eTA to conduct light-touch pre-travel screening of air passengers.

Applying for an eTA costs C $7 (about 293 pesos), and the Canadian Embassy says most applications are automatically approved within minutes. Only a valid passport, credit card, email address and internet access are required to apply for an eTA.

Once approved, Filipino visitors can stay in Canada for up to six months, whether for business or pleasure. Visa-free entry to Canada for eligible Filipinos is for air travel only, so those traveling by land or sea must still obtain a visitor visa.