The short answer: a French citizen who is flying to Canada needs an eTA, the electronic travel authorization from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and it costs 7 CAD. The form is available in French as well as English. The most common mistake for French applicants is entering the wrong number from the passport: the Government of Canada says not to use the number on the first page, nor the number at the bottom of the page with your photo.
Canada is not a place where a French passport gets you onto the plane without paperwork, even though French travellers do not need a visitor visa. If you want the wider picture first, read what the difference is between an eTA and a visitor visa and how to apply for a Canada eTA. This page focuses on what is specific to travellers holding a French passport.
Do French citizens need an eTA for Canada?
Yes, for air travel. France is one of the countries whose citizens do not need a visa for a short visit to Canada, and the eTA is the requirement that replaces the visa for those travellers. You need it to board a flight to Canada, including a flight where you change planes at a Canadian airport. It is linked electronically to your passport, so nothing is posted to you and nothing is stamped in the passport.
An eTA is not a guarantee of entry. A border services officer decides whether you may enter each time you arrive. It also does not give permission to work or study: if IRCC approves a work permit or a study permit for you, an eTA is issued automatically with it and you do not apply separately.
A French citizen who also holds Canadian citizenship is in a different position. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, cannot apply for an eTA and must travel to Canada on a Canadian passport. The dual nationals guide explains which passport to use for which leg.
Can you apply in French?
Yes. The Government of Canada says the application form is available in English and French only. If you are more comfortable in French, choose the French version of the form. The form also asks for your preferred language to contact you, and that choice concerns how IRCC contacts you, not the language of the form. Field descriptions and a help guide are also published in other languages, and they can sit beside you while you fill in the form.
Which number do you enter from a French passport?
This is the step that catches French applicants. The government instructions for French passport holders say:
- Do not enter the number on the first page of your passport.
- Do not enter the number at the bottom of the page with your photo.
- Most French passport numbers are 9 characters long.
Canada’s general passport guidance adds that passport numbers combine letters and numbers. Take care with the letter O and the digit 0, and with the letter I and the digit 1. Do not enter special characters such as a hyphen, or spaces.
The government warns that if you enter a wrong passport number or country code, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada. You may only find out at the airport, you would have to reapply for an eTA there, and depending on your situation a last-minute eTA may not be possible. That is why it is worth checking the number twice against the page itself, not against an older document or a photocopy.
| Item | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Passport number | The number at the top of the passport information page (the page with your photo), with no spaces; most French numbers are 9 characters |
| Not this | The number on the first page, or the number at the bottom of the photo page |
| Country of issue | The code that matches the one on your passport information page |
| Surname and given names | Exactly as shown on the passport |
Where do you find the country code on a French passport?
The form asks you to select the code that matches the one on your passport information page. Look for a field named “Code”, “Issuing country”, “Authority” or “Country code”. Some countries have several options in the list and some codes are very similar, so choose from the list with care. Do not guess from memory: copy what your passport says.
What do you need before you start?
The form cannot be saved and you have a limited time to complete it, so prepare these before you open it:
- Your French passport, with the photo page in front of you.
- An email address you can open right now. IRCC writes to you by email only, so check your junk folder.
- A payment card. Canada accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express, prepaid versions of those, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB.
- Your employment details and your background answers. The form asks about refusals, criminal offences and tuberculosis, and you must answer truthfully.
Each traveller applies separately and pays separately, so a family of three completes the form three times, including for children. See the guide to eTAs for minor children for the details.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The government fee is 7 CAD per traveller. It is paid by card when you submit and is not refunded, whatever the outcome. Most applications are decided within minutes. Some need more documents and can take several days, so apply well before you book anything you cannot cancel, and do not wait for the day before the flight.
When you pay, the screen shows “Transaction Approved”. That confirms the payment only, and the eTA decision arrives separately by email. Print or save the payment receipt at once: the form does not let you print it later or send you a copy.
How long does the eTA last for a French traveller?
An approved eTA stays valid for up to five years, or for less if your passport expires sooner, and it covers repeated short visits while it lasts. If you renew your passport, the old eTA no longer matches the new document and you need to apply again. Check the expiry date of your French passport before you apply, because a passport that expires in a year gives you a one-year eTA at most.
Should you apply yourself or use a service?
You can pay only the 7 CAD government fee by applying yourself on canada.ca. Some travellers prefer a paid service that walks them through the form. get-eta.com is a paid private service, clearly separate from the Government of Canada, where you can start your eTA application. IRCC makes the decision either way, and any charge above 7 CAD is the service’s own fee.
What if you arrive by land or sea?
Generally an eTA is not needed if you arrive by land or by sea, for example by car from the United States. One exception matters to French travellers in particular: sea travel from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon other than on a cruise. The guide for cruise and ferry passengers covers it. If you fly into Canada at any point, the eTA applies.
Frequently asked questions
Do French citizens need a visa for Canada? Not for a short visit, but they need an eTA to fly. The eTA is not a visa.
Is the eTA form available in French? Yes. The form is available in English and French.
Which number on my French passport do I enter? The number the government instructions point to on the photo page, not the number on the first page and not the number at the bottom of the photo page. Most are 9 characters long.
Can I edit my application after I submit? No. An eTA cannot be edited after submission, so check every field before you pay.
Does my child need an eTA? Yes. Every traveller with a French passport, including infants, needs an eTA linked to their own passport.
The short version
- French citizens flying to Canada need an eTA; it costs 7 CAD.
- The form is available in French and English.
- Enter the correct number: not the number on the first page, and not the number at the bottom of the photo page.
- Choose the country code that matches your passport information page.
- Each traveller, including every child, needs their own application.
- Print or save the payment receipt immediately; the eTA lasts up to five years or until your passport expires.
For the live rules, see the Government of Canada page on how to apply for an eTA.