Starting today, June 5, only Romanian citizens who hold electronic passports are exempt from requiring a visa to travel or transit through Canada.

Romanian citizens who hold a non-electronic passport, such as a temporary passport, are no longer visa exempt and now require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

This also means that Romanian citizens who hold a non-electronic passport and are heading to or through Canada are no longer eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) unless they are lawful permanent residents of the United States.

All eTAs issued to Romanians holding a non-electronic passport between December 1, 2017, and 5:29 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on June 5, 2018, are invalidated. This includes eTAs issued to valid study and work permit holders.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said this latter group can apply online for a TRV or mail their paper applications to its Case Processing Centre in Ottawa.

IRCC says all affected by the invalidation will be notified by email.

For more information on Temporary Resident Visas and Electronic Travel Authorizations, visit our dedicated page or use our Visiting Canada Tool.