Urgent Help Required – Unable to Apply for New eTA with Valid Work Permit

[Mar1997]

Hello everyone,

I hope someone here can help me, as I’m feeling quite desperate and haven’t been able to find a clear answer on the IRCC website.

I’m a Mexican citizen currently holding a valid Canadian work permit issued three years ago. I recently renewed my passport outside of Canada. My previous eTA—still valid at the time—was linked to my old passport, so I now need to apply for a new eTA tied to my new passport.

However, the website isn’t allowing me to submit a new eTA application. Since 2024, Mexican citizens are required to apply for a visa instead, and the site only provides the option to apply as a tourist. There’s no option to indicate that I already hold a valid work permit.

When I answered a few preliminary questions on the site, I received the following message:
We automatically issued you an electronic travel authorization (eTA) when we approved your first study or work permit. However, an eTA can only be used to travel to Canada by air.

I’ve contacted the airline (twice), and they advised me to simply apply for a new eTA and bring both passports (old and new) along with my valid work permit when checking in. I also consulted with an immigration lawyer, who told me the same thing—just apply for a new eTA.

The problem is, the website does not allow me to proceed with an eTA application due to the new visa requirement for Mexican nationals. Applying for a visa would take several weeks and requires documentation that doesn’t apply to my situation (e.g., return flight ticket, invitation letter, proof of funds, accommodation details), which are clearly intended for tourists.

I live and work legally in Canada—it doesn’t make sense for me to go through the full tourist visa process just to return home.

If anyone has experienced something similar or knows of a solution, I would deeply appreciate your guidance.

Thank you in advance!

 

[forevermore76]

Hello everyone,

I hope someone here can help me, as I’m feeling quite desperate and haven’t been able to find a clear answer on the IRCC website.

I’m a Mexican citizen currently holding a valid Canadian work permit issued three years ago. I recently renewed my passport outside of Canada. My previous eTA—still valid at the time—was linked to my old passport, so I now need to apply for a new eTA tied to my new passport.

However, the website isn’t allowing me to submit a new eTA application. Since 2024, Mexican citizens are required to apply for a visa instead, and the site only provides the option to apply as a tourist. There’s no option to indicate that I already hold a valid work permit.

When I answered a few preliminary questions on the site, I received the following message:
We automatically issued you an electronic travel authorization (eTA) when we approved your first study or work permit. However, an eTA can only be used to travel to Canada by air.

I’ve contacted the airline (twice), and they advised me to simply apply for a new eTA and bring both passports (old and new) along with my valid work permit when checking in. I also consulted with an immigration lawyer, who told me the same thing—just apply for a new eTA.

The problem is, the website does not allow me to proceed with an eTA application due to the new visa requirement for Mexican nationals. Applying for a visa would take several weeks and requires documentation that doesn’t apply to my situation (e.g., return flight ticket, invitation letter, proof of funds, accommodation details), which are clearly intended for tourists.

I live and work legally in Canada—it doesn’t make sense for me to go through the full tourist visa process just to return home.

If anyone has experienced something similar or knows of a solution, I would deeply appreciate your guidance.

Thank you in advance!

ETA usually expires with passport expiration. You probably have no other choice but to apply for a TRV. Maybe try entering through land border by flying in to US.

 

[scylla]

Hello everyone,

I hope someone here can help me, as I’m feeling quite desperate and haven’t been able to find a clear answer on the IRCC website.

I’m a Mexican citizen currently holding a valid Canadian work permit issued three years ago. I recently renewed my passport outside of Canada. My previous eTA—still valid at the time—was linked to my old passport, so I now need to apply for a new eTA tied to my new passport.

However, the website isn’t allowing me to submit a new eTA application. Since 2024, Mexican citizens are required to apply for a visa instead, and the site only provides the option to apply as a tourist. There’s no option to indicate that I already hold a valid work permit.

When I answered a few preliminary questions on the site, I received the following message:
We automatically issued you an electronic travel authorization (eTA) when we approved your first study or work permit. However, an eTA can only be used to travel to Canada by air.

I’ve contacted the airline (twice), and they advised me to simply apply for a new eTA and bring both passports (old and new) along with my valid work permit when checking in. I also consulted with an immigration lawyer, who told me the same thing—just apply for a new eTA.

The problem is, the website does not allow me to proceed with an eTA application due to the new visa requirement for Mexican nationals. Applying for a visa would take several weeks and requires documentation that doesn’t apply to my situation (e.g., return flight ticket, invitation letter, proof of funds, accommodation details), which are clearly intended for tourists.

I live and work legally in Canada—it doesn’t make sense for me to go through the full tourist visa process just to return home.

If anyone has experienced something similar or knows of a solution, I would deeply appreciate your guidance.

Thank you in advance!

Mexican nationals are no longer eTA qualified. You need to apply for an TRV.

 

[Naturgrl]

Hello everyone,

I hope someone here can help me, as I’m feeling quite desperate and haven’t been able to find a clear answer on the IRCC website.

I’m a Mexican citizen currently holding a valid Canadian work permit issued three years ago. I recently renewed my passport outside of Canada. My previous eTA—still valid at the time—was linked to my old passport, so I now need to apply for a new eTA tied to my new passport.

However, the website isn’t allowing me to submit a new eTA application. Since 2024, Mexican citizens are required to apply for a visa instead, and the site only provides the option to apply as a tourist. There’s no option to indicate that I already hold a valid work permit.

When I answered a few preliminary questions on the site, I received the following message:
We automatically issued you an electronic travel authorization (eTA) when we approved your first study or work permit. However, an eTA can only be used to travel to Canada by air.

I’ve contacted the airline (twice), and they advised me to simply apply for a new eTA and bring both passports (old and new) along with my valid work permit when checking in. I also consulted with an immigration lawyer, who told me the same thing—just apply for a new eTA.

The problem is, the website does not allow me to proceed with an eTA application due to the new visa requirement for Mexican nationals. Applying for a visa would take several weeks and requires documentation that doesn’t apply to my situation (e.g., return flight ticket, invitation letter, proof of funds, accommodation details), which are clearly intended for tourists.

I live and work legally in Canada—it doesn’t make sense for me to go through the full tourist visa process just to return home.

If anyone has experienced something similar or knows of a solution, I would deeply appreciate your guidance.

Thank you in advance!

You need a TRV. A WP is just to work in Canada but you need a TRV to enter. A TRV is for tourists, students and workers.

 

[armoured]

I live and work legally in Canada—it doesn’t make sense for me to go through the full tourist visa process just to return home.

TRV is a temporary resident visa, not a tourist visa - although it does cover 'tourists' as well, that's not the only type of 'temporary resident' it covers. With a work permit, you're a temporary resident.

 

[forevermore76]

Mexican nationals are no longer eTA qualified. You need to apply for an eTA.

You mean TRV.

 

[scylla]

You mean TRV.

Sigh. Yes.

 

[Mar1997]

ETA usually expires with passport expiration. You probably have no other choice but to apply for a TRV. Maybe try entering through land border by flying in to US.

My passport didn't expire, nor me ETA. I thought about getting a visa, but while filling the questionnaire to see if I'm elegible for the visa, it says I do not need one. Just the ETA that is linked to my old passport and my valid work permit.

 

[Mar1997]

TRV is a temporary resident visa, not a tourist visa - although it does cover 'tourists' as well, that's not the only type of 'temporary resident' it covers. With a work permit, you're a temporary resident.

That makes sense, I guess I'm overwhelmed because the

You need a TRV. A WP is just to work in Canada but you need a TRV to enter. A TRV is for tourists, students and workers.

As mentioned above, the website says I do not need a TRV. Just the eTa that was issued along with my work permit. I previously re-enter Canada with my work permit and eTA, and no issues at all, my concern is about my new passport that is not linked to the eTa of my previous passport.

 

[armoured]

That makes sense, I guess I'm overwhelmed because the

As mentioned above, the website says I do not need a TRV. Just the eTa that was issued along with my work permit. I previously re-enter Canada with my work permit and eTA, and no issues at all, my concern is about my new passport that is not linked to the eTa of my previous passport.

I do not know if an ETA in the *old* passport would still be considered valid, as is the case with a TRV (where they say you can bring the old and new and the visa in old passport will be considered valid). It basically boils down to whether the airline will let you board - which SHOULD be driven by the CBSA confirming. You can try confirming with CBSA, just an idea.

Problem is, as I understand, you can no longer apply for an ETA (if you can't get on the plane). That leaves only the TRV.

 

[Mar1997]

I do not know if an ETA in the *old* passport would still be considered valid, as is the case with a TRV (where they say you can bring the old and new and the visa in old passport will be considered valid). It basically boils down to whether the airline will let you board - which SHOULD be driven by the CBSA confirming. You can try confirming with CBSA, just an idea.

Problem is, as I understand, you can no longer apply for an ETA (if you can't get on the plane). That leaves only the TRV.

Thank you! I'm gonna try again. I did ask a lawyer and she said I don't need a TRV. I might try consulting another one instead.
By any chance do you know if I can call the CBSA? I only found the phone number for inside Canada.

 

[armoured]

Thank you! I'm gonna try again. I did ask a lawyer and she said I don't need a TRV. I might try consulting another one instead.
By any chance do you know if I can call the CBSA? I only found the phone number for inside Canada.

Did the lawyer tell you what you do need?

Again, simple deduction: if you can't get on the plane (you need to clarify this), then you need something for that - and if you can't apply for an ETA, you need a TRV.

No, I don't know number for CBSA, apart from internet.

 

[forevermore76]

My passport didn't expire, nor me ETA. I thought about getting a visa, but while filling the questionnaire to see if I'm elegible for the visa, it says I do not need one. Just the ETA that is linked to my old passport and my valid work permit.

Idk why you will have two passports if the first one hasn't expired. Either ways, the ETA was done with the old passport. You cannot enter Canada as a temporary resident without a TRV(Temporary Resident Visa). Only way it might work is through land border crossing but going in to US might be even more difficult for you. All the best.