The short answer: a baby who is a visa-exempt foreign national and is flying to Canada needs their own eTA, linked to their own passport, and the parent or guardian applies on the child’s behalf. There is no age exemption for infants. You also cannot include a child in a parent’s application: the Government of Canada says you can apply and pay for one person at a time, so a family of three completes and submits the form three times.
Parents usually reach this question from two directions: a baby is on the way and a trip is already booked, or a family is travelling and someone noticed the child is not on the parents’ eTA. Both are solved the same way. If you have never applied, read the first-time step-by-step guide alongside this page. If your child is a Canadian citizen, the rules are different and are covered near the end.
Does a newborn need a Canada eTA?
Yes, if the baby is a foreign national who does not need a visa to visit Canada and is arriving by air. The requirement follows the passport, not the age. A one-month-old with a British, Australian or German passport needs an eTA in the same way as an adult with that passport. The eTA is linked electronically to the child’s passport, so the child needs a passport first.
The exceptions that apply to adults apply to children too. A child who is a Canadian citizen, including a dual citizen, travels on a Canadian passport and cannot apply for an eTA. A child who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States is exempt from the eTA requirement, as the adults are, since 26 April 2022. A child who arrives by land or sea generally does not need an eTA, and the land and sea rules explain the details.
Who fills in the form for a baby?
A parent or legal guardian fills it in. The application opens with the question “Are you applying on behalf of someone?”. For a baby, the parent or guardian who fills in the form is applying on the child’s behalf. The Government of Canada describes a representative as a person who has the permission of someone wanting to travel to Canada to conduct business with IRCC on their behalf, paid or unpaid. For a small child, the parent is the natural person to do it.
The passport details, name, date of birth and other answers you enter are the child’s, not yours. The email address is yours, since IRCC uses it to contact you about the application. Use an address you can open, and check your junk folder, because updates arrive by email only.
What do you need before you start?
Have these ready. The form cannot be saved and you have limited time to complete it:
- The baby’s passport, with the data page in front of you. No passport, no eTA.
- Your own email address, one you can open right now.
- A payment card. Canada accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express, prepaid versions of those, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB.
- The 7 CAD government fee for each child. It is charged once per application and is not refunded.
The form also has an employment section with required fields: occupation, job title, name of employer or school, country, city and the year since which the situation applies. IRCC does not publish separate instructions for an infant, so choose the option that best describes the child’s situation, read the hint under each field, and see the help guide in your language. Answer the background questions truthfully and consistently with the passport.
How do you handle a very new passport?
A newborn’s first passport is often issued within weeks of a trip, so timing matters. Apply for the eTA only when you hold the passport, because the number, dates and name on the data page are what you enter and what the airline checks. Do not enter details from a birth certificate or from the passport application: the form says to enter the name exactly as shown on the passport or identity document.
Two points catch parents out. First, a passport issued for a baby is often valid for a shorter period than an adult’s, and an eTA lasts up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Second, when the child gets a new passport, the old eTA no longer matches it, and you need to apply again. What to do after a new passport is issued explains this.
What is different for a family with several children?
Each traveller has a separate application, so a family with two adults and three children submits five applications and pays five fees of 7 CAD. There is no family form and no group discount.
| Traveller | Own eTA needed? | Who applies |
|---|---|---|
| Adult with an eTA-required passport | Yes | The adult |
| Baby with an eTA-required passport | Yes | A parent or guardian |
| Child who is a Canadian citizen | No, travels on a Canadian passport | Not applicable |
| Child who is a US permanent resident | No | Not applicable |
| Child arriving by land or sea | Generally no | Not applicable |
Apply for the children in one sitting if you can, so that the application numbers, the confirmation emails and the payment receipts are easy to match to each child. Note which email belongs to which application.
What about the payment receipt?
Print or save your receipt right away. The Government of Canada warns that you will not be able to print it later or receive a copy of it. This matters more for a family, because you will have several receipts and only your own record will link each one to a child. A file name with the child’s first name and the date is enough.
When should you apply?
Most eTA applications are decided within minutes, but a minority need more time or additional documents, and those can take several days. For an infant, the practical advice is to apply as soon as the passport arrives and well before you book anything you cannot cancel. Waiting until the day before travel is the classic mistake. If IRCC asks for more information, see what to do when more information is requested.
What if the baby is also a Canadian citizen?
A child who holds a Canadian passport does not need and cannot apply for an eTA. A child who is entitled to Canadian citizenship but has no Canadian passport yet is a separate situation, and this page does not cover the citizenship rules. The eTA for dual citizens guide explains why a dual citizen must travel on the Canadian passport, and the same logic applies to children.
Can a service do it for you?
Some parents prefer to have someone check the entries when the passport data is tiny and the baby is asleep on their arm. get-eta.com is a paid private service, clearly separate from the Government of Canada, where you can start your eTA application for each traveller. If you want to pay only the 7 CAD government fee for each child, apply on canada.ca yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Does a baby under one year old need an eTA? Yes, if the baby is a visa-exempt foreign national flying to Canada. There is no minimum age.
Can I add my child to my own eTA? No. You can only apply and pay for one person at a time. Each traveller has a separate application and a separate fee.
Can I apply before the baby has a passport? No. The eTA is linked to a passport, and you enter the passport number and dates in the form.
Who completes the declaration? The declaration says that the information given is truthful, complete and correct, and that typing your name and clicking sign is an electronic signature. Read it in full before you sign, since it is a legal statement.
Does a child need an eTA to change planes in Canada? The requirement covers air travel through a Canadian airport, and it applies to a child in the same way as to an adult.
The short version
- A baby who is a visa-exempt foreign national needs their own eTA for a flight to Canada.
- A parent or guardian applies on the child’s behalf, one application per child.
- Wait until you have the baby’s passport, and enter the details exactly as they appear on it.
- Pay the 7 CAD government fee for each child; the fee is not refunded.
- Print or save each receipt immediately.
- A new passport means a new eTA, and Canadian citizens and US permanent residents do not need one.
For the live rules, see the Government of Canada page on how to apply for an eTA.