Do I need a visa to visit Canada if I have a US green card?
TL;DR: No visitor visa is required — lawful US permanent residents are visa-exempt for Canada. But if you're flying into Canada, you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), a quick online approval, unless entering by land, bus, train, or boat, which needs no eTA at all. Either way, carry your valid green card and a passport from your country of nationality.
The claim
Green card holders get treated similarly to visa-exempt foreign nationals for Canada, but with one catch: air travel still requires the eTA even though no visa is needed.
The evidence
Canada's official IRCC and Canada.ca eTA guidance both confirm: lawful permanent residents of the US are exempt from needing a Canadian visitor visa, but must obtain an eTA before flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport, and must always carry proof of status (valid green card or equivalent) plus a passport from their home country.
Travel mode vs eTA requirement
| Mode of travel to Canada | eTA required? | Visa required? |
|---|---|---|
| Flying (direct or connecting through Canada) | Yes | No |
| Driving / land border crossing | No | No |
| Bus or train | No | No |
| Boat / cruise ship | No | No |
Step by step
- Confirm your green card is valid (or covered by an acceptable equivalent, like an expired card with a pending I-90/I-751/I-829 notice).
- If flying: apply for an eTA online at Canada.ca using your passport and green card number — approval is often near-instant and costs a small government fee (roughly $7 CAD directly through the official site; third-party services charge more).
- If driving, taking a bus, train, or boat: no eTA needed — just carry your green card and passport.
- Present your green card and passport at the Canadian border regardless of travel mode.
- Keep documents current — an expired green card without a valid renewal notice can cause denial of boarding or entry.
FAQ
Does the eTA apply to connecting flights through a Canadian airport? Yes — transiting through a Canadian airport by air still requires an eTA even if you're not stopping in Canada.
How long is an eTA valid? An approved eTA is typically valid for up to five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, for multiple short visits.
What if my green card is expired but I have a renewal receipt? IRCC accepts specific equivalents — an expired card paired with Form I-797 for a pending I-90, I-751, or I-829 is generally acceptable proof of status.
Do accompanying family members need their own eTA? Yes — each traveler flying to Canada needs an individual eTA tied to their own passport, including US green card holders' family members who aren't themselves green card holders.
By Pinal Dave Last updated: 2026-07-25