Hi guys, apologies if this thread has already been discussed, I couldn't find any updated information regarding my case. My wife and I just received COPR and planning to do our landing in July from the UK. As we are from a passport exempt country we'll only carry COPR and no visa on our passports. Now, I know CIC website states clearly that in our case no eTA is required but I read airlines can be a little funny if you travel with only your COPR and passport and it's probably safer to get eTA anyways to avoid potential problems like not being allowed on the flight. Has someone had recent experience landing to Canada to activate your PR from a visa exempt country? IF so, did you apply for an eTA just in case or was it enough to have a COPR like CIC's website is stating ? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance! A.
Landing with only COPR - eTA or no eTA?
- Thread starter amontella
- Start date
I had an awful experience as the airline wouldn't let me check-in with my COPR only. After taking their sweet time (about an hour and a half) they were finally convinced that I was landing to finish the PR process.
Apparently they get fined if the passenger is denied entry to the country and is forced to fly back.
Official answer here which assume you have seen but posted for other readers anyway
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1184&top=16
It is one of those decisions to make whether you rely on uniformed checkin staff or spend 7 dollars each for an ETA which just gets cancelled shortly after you land as PRs. That assumes of course given the official statement above that once a COPR has been issued whether they will even issue an ETA but I guess with an online application a decision comes in minutes or hours anyway.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1184&top=16
It is one of those decisions to make whether you rely on uniformed checkin staff or spend 7 dollars each for an ETA which just gets cancelled shortly after you land as PRs. That assumes of course given the official statement above that once a COPR has been issued whether they will even issue an ETA but I guess with an online application a decision comes in minutes or hours anyway.
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Hi Amontella. I’m in the exact same situation. May I ask what you ended up doing, and the outcome please? Thanks very much!
The CoPR CLEARLY states "NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL". The airline is very unlikely to accept it in lieu of a visa or eTA.
If you are from visa exempt country, you will need eTA to board a flight for Canada.
The eTA is generated by IRCC for visa-exempt passport holders at the same time as they issue the COPR.
That means that it cannot be used in place of a travel document, i.e. a passport.
An electronic authorization is issued with the COPR. People do not have to apply for an eTA separately.
Indeed!
Reviewing my post, I understand how one may misunderstand it as needing to apply for eTA seperately. Yes it's given with CoPR.
It's just that OP said that CIC website stated no eTA needed for his visa-exempt passport. The basis of my statement. One needs an eTA if visa-exempt country.
Hi there,
I was concerned about this question a few days ago (see my post here https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/problem-boarding-a-plane-with-copr-imm-5688-but-no-eta.540143/#post-7827359). Now I can say for sure that I successfully landed WITHOUT (applying for) an eTA to close this debate once and for all. The airline didn't bother checking whether I had an eTA or CoPR but just checked my visa-free passport to allow me to board. And CBSA just checked my passport and CoPR to allow me in at the airport of destination.
So once again as specified here (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1184&top=16), there's ABSOLUTELY no need to apply for an eTA to seek admission to Canada as a new PR if you are in possession of a valid CoPR. However, some airlines might be ignorant and trouble you if you don't show them eTA but CoPR instead, make sure to help them understand that you are 100% correct and within your rights to do so.
By the way, the immigration officer who granted me admission insisted that it would be necessary to have a PRTD to come back to Canada from now on if not in possession of a valid PR Card.
Hope this helps.
I was concerned about this question a few days ago (see my post here https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/problem-boarding-a-plane-with-copr-imm-5688-but-no-eta.540143/#post-7827359). Now I can say for sure that I successfully landed WITHOUT (applying for) an eTA to close this debate once and for all. The airline didn't bother checking whether I had an eTA or CoPR but just checked my visa-free passport to allow me to board. And CBSA just checked my passport and CoPR to allow me in at the airport of destination.
So once again as specified here (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1184&top=16), there's ABSOLUTELY no need to apply for an eTA to seek admission to Canada as a new PR if you are in possession of a valid CoPR. However, some airlines might be ignorant and trouble you if you don't show them eTA but CoPR instead, make sure to help them understand that you are 100% correct and within your rights to do so.
By the way, the immigration officer who granted me admission insisted that it would be necessary to have a PRTD to come back to Canada from now on if not in possession of a valid PR Card.
Hope this helps.
There was no negligence and the airline didn't take anyone's word. This person had an electronic authorization attached to their passport, issued by IRCC when they issued the COPR. Airline staff don't ask for proof of en eTA; they simply run the passport through the system and get either a "board" or "no board" response. The airline ran this person's passport and got a "board" response based on the authorization issued with the COPR.
To be clear, yes, the airline DID check for an electronic authorization when they ran your passport through the system. You were issued this authorization when you were issued your COPR and that is why you were allowed to board.