Canada Simplifies Air Travel for Some Tourists from Indonesia and Malaysia: Who Can Now Apply for an eTA

Canada, starting May 26, 2026, has opened a simplified path for some citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia who are flying to the country or transiting through a Canadian airport. Instead of a full visitor visa, they can apply online for an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if they have held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid non-immigrant US visa. For tourists, this means less paperwork, faster preparation for air travel, and lower processing costs, but not a complete abolition of the visa regime.

The decision was announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on May 25, and the new rules came into effect on May 26, 2026, at 5:30 AM Eastern Time. The Canadian government explains the change as part of a broader strategy to engage with the Indo-Pacific region, develop business ties, and aim to make travel more efficient without relaxing border security checks. For the tourism market, this is also important because Indonesia and Malaysia have a growing middle class, active family, educational, and business ties with North America, and an increasing number of routes through major air hubs.

What Exactly Changed on May 26

Before the rule change, citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia typically required a Canadian visitor visa for short tourist or business trips. Now, some travelers from these countries can apply for an eTA, an electronic travel authorization that is electronically linked to their passport and verified by the airline before boarding a flight to Canada.

The key condition is that the simplification does not apply to everyone without exception. Only those citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia who meet at least one of two criteria: held a Canadian temporary resident visa within the last 10 years or currently hold a valid non-immigrant US visa, are eligible for an eTA. This logic is based on the fact that these individuals have already undergone preliminary screening by Canada or the United States.

The Canadian government separately emphasizes: those who already have a valid Canadian visitor visa can continue to use it. The new mechanism does not cancel issued documents and does not force holders of a valid visa to re-apply for an eTA. It creates a simpler option for future trips or for those who meet the conditions but do not yet have a current Canadian entry permit.

Who Will Benefit the Most

The most obvious group of beneficiaries are repeat tourists who have visited Canada within the last decade. For them, the new rules can significantly reduce the preparation time for their next trip, especially for short vacations, visiting relatives, visiting conferences, or transiting through Canada on the way to another country.

The second group consists of citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia with a valid non-immigrant US visa. These may be tourists with a B1/B2 visa, students, business travelers, or professionals who frequently fly through North America. For them, the ability to obtain an eTA makes Canada more accessible as a separate destination or as a convenient transit point between Asia, the USA, and Europe.

However, for travelers who have never held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years and do not have a valid US visa, the basic rule remains unchanged: they still require a Canadian visitor visa. This is why the news should be read carefully. This is not universal visa-free travel for Indonesia and Malaysia, but a conditional expansion of access to electronic authorization for pre-screened passengers.

Why eTA is Important for Air Travel

The eTA is used for air passengers flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport. According to the official Canadian government page, the authorization costs 7 Canadian dollars, is processed online and is usually linked to the passport for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. In comparison, a full visitor visa is more expensive and often requires a longer review period.

The practical effect for the tourist is simple: if a person meets the criteria, they can plan a short trip more flexibly. This is especially important for trips with layovers, where Canada is not the final destination but part of the route. For example, passengers flying through Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), Vancouver Airport (YVR), or Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL) should check in advance whether they need a permit for boarding and whether their document meets the airline's requirements.

At the same time, an eTA does not guarantee automatic entry. The final decision is made by a border officer upon arrival. The passenger must have a valid passport, meet the purpose of a short-term trip, explain the itinerary if necessary, provide proof of financial support, a return or onward ticket, and ties to their country of residence. This is a standard part of Canadian border control, and the new electronic permit does not cancel these requirements.

Important Limitation: Air Travel Only

One of the most common mistakes in interpreting the eTA is considering it a full replacement for a visa for any method of arrival. In reality, the Canadian eTA regime is linked to air travel. If a citizen of Indonesia or Malaysia arrives in Canada by car, bus, train, ferry, or cruise ship, they may still require a visitor visa, even if they would have been eligible to apply for an eTA for a flight.

This nuance is important for travelers who combine the USA and Canada in one trip. For example, a tourist may fly into New York or Seattle and then plan to travel by land to Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal. In such a case, one should check not only the eligibility for an eTA, but also the requirements for the specific method of border crossing. For air travel, an eTA may be sufficient if conditions are met, but for land or sea entry, rules may require a visa.

What This Means for Canada's Tourism Market

According to IRCC data, in 2025, Canada welcomed approximately 18,300 visitors from Indonesia and 11,500 from Malaysia. On a global scale, these are not the largest entry markets, but they have strategic importance: Southeast Asian countries are rapidly developing international tourism, and long-haul flights increasingly combine leisure, education, business, and family visits.

For Canada, simplifying entry procedures can help attract more repeat tourists and business travelers who value the speed of document processing. Visa simplicity is not the only factor in choosing a destination, but it often influences the decision when a tourist compares several distant countries with similar airfare costs. The less uncertainty regarding documents, the easier it is for tour operators, airlines, and travelers themselves to plan a trip.

In a practical sense, cities with large international hubs can benefit the most. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal have extensive connections to the USA, Europe, and other Canadian cities, as well as tourism infrastructure for short stops. If a passenger plans a long layover or the first night after arrival, it is useful to look at logistics near the airport in advance: for example, options for hotels near Toronto Pearson, hotels near Vancouver Airport, or transfers from Montreal-Trudeau Airport.

How Passengers from Indonesia and Malaysia Should Prepare

The first step is to check your own category. If a traveler has a valid non-immigrant US visa or had a Canadian temporary resident visa within the last 10 years, they can check their eligibility for an eTA via the official Canada.ca website. If such documents are not available, they should follow the standard visitor visa procedure.

The second step is to carefully check the passport. The eTA is electronically linked to the passport specified in the application. If the passport number is entered incorrectly or the passport is changed after receiving the authorization, problems may arise during flight check-in. The Canadian government separately warns that the airline verifies the eTA via the passport, and without a valid authorization, the passenger may be denied boarding.

The third step is not to leave the application until the last hours. Most eTA applications can be approved quickly, but some require additional information. For a tourist, this means it is better to obtain the authorization before purchasing a complex itinerary or at least well before departure, especially if the trip involves multiple airlines and layovers.

For passengers departing from Southeast Asia, it is also useful to check the transit rules at the departure airport. There are separate pages for Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK) and Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL), which can help with basic logistics before an international flight. Document requirements should always be cross-referenced with official Canadian sources and the airline.

Why the News is Important Beyond Canada

Canada's decision fits into a broader trend: countries are trying to simultaneously simplify travel for pre-screened travelers and maintain border security control. Electronic authorizations, pre-screening of passengers, and linking the authorization to the passport are gradually becoming the norm for international tourism. For tourists, this is convenience, but it requires more discipline: rules must be checked before booking, and not on the day of departure.

For Indonesia and Malaysia, the change may be a positive signal: Canada sees these markets not only as a source of tourists, but also as part of economic and educational exchange. For airlines and tourism services, this creates grounds to more actively promote routes through Canadian hubs, short city stops, and combined USA-Canada trips for those who meet the new requirements.

Conclusion

The Canadian decision is not a complete abolition of visas for citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia, but it significantly simplifies air travel for an important category of travelers: those who have held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid non-immigrant US visa. For tourists, this means faster processing, lower authorization costs, and simpler transit through Canadian airports. The main thing is to check eligibility for an eTA on the official website, remember the limitations for land and sea entry, and not confuse the electronic authorization with a guaranteed right to cross the border.

Sources: official announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada dated May 25, 2026, the Canadian government's reference page on eTA, and the specialized publication The Visa Wire.