Canada added Indonesia and Malaysia to its eTA‑X program, letting certain visa‑required air travellers who held a Canadian TRV in the past 10 years or who hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa apply for an eTA. Both countries remain otherwise visa‑required and the change applies to air travel only.
Soheil Hosseini
May 26, 2026
Jurisdiction
Federal
Week
Week 22
Impact
Moderate
Programs Affected
Canada Adds Indonesia and Malaysia to eTA‑X, Allowing Some Air Travellers with Past TRV or Valid U.S. Visa to Apply
Summary: Canada has added Indonesia and Malaysia to its Electronic Travel Authorization Expansion (eTA‑X) program, enabling certain citizens of these visa‑required countries to apply for an eTA for air travel if they have held a Canadian TRV in the past 10 years or hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa. Both countries remain otherwise visa‑required. Date: 2026-05-26 | Source: IRCC (Program delivery update) | Program affected: TRV Canada has partially eased entry requirements for select travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia by expanding the Electronic Travel Authorization Expansion (eTA‑X) program. While Indonesia and Malaysia remain visa‑required countries, eligible citizens can now apply for an eTA when travelling to Canada by air, subject to defined criteria. Key details
- Countries added: Indonesia and Malaysia
- Program: eTA‑X (Electronic Travel Authorization Expansion)
- Mode of travel: Air only (not applicable to land or sea entries)
- Eligibility at time of application:
- Held a Canadian temporary resident visa (TRV) in the past 10 years, or
- Hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa (NIV)
- Status unchanged: Travellers who do not meet eTA‑X criteria remain visa‑required Why it matters
This program delivery update, posted by IRCC as guidance to stakeholders, signals a continued use of risk‑based facilitation tools to streamline low‑risk travel while maintaining screening through the eTA system. Independent analysis
- Potential positives:
- Faster, lower‑cost travel for eligible Indonesian and Malaysian air travellers, which may support tourism, business visits, and family travel.
- Reduced TRV workload for IRCC and visa posts for repeat or U.S.‑vetted travellers.
- Operational predictability for airlines through advance eTA vetting.
- Potential challenges/limitations:
- Air‑only restriction may cause confusion for travellers planning multi‑modal itineraries; land/sea entries still require visas.
- Narrow eligibility—many applicants will still need a TRV if they lack a prior Canadian TRV or a valid U.S. NIV.
- Carrier compliance risks if documentation checks at boarding do not align with eTA‑X criteria.
- Transition issues as stakeholders update systems, training, and communications. Outlook and next steps
Stakeholders should review IRCC’s posted guidance for procedural specifics and monitor for any future country additions or operational refinements. Travellers should verify eligibility and apply for an eTA only if they meet the air‑only and TRV/U.S. NIV criteria; otherwise, a TRV remains required.
Tags: IRCC, eTA‑X, Electronic Travel Authorization, TRV, Indonesia, Malaysia, U.S. nonimmigrant visa, Canada immigration, visa policy, air travel, program delivery update, 2026-05-26
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