Canadian Citizens, ESTA and U.S. Visas Canadian citizens are not required to apply for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) in order to enter the United States. Canada is not part of the Visa Waiver Program. Canada and the United States have special agreements that ensure that Canadian and American citizens can easily travel between the the two countries. For this reason, Canadians are not required to apply for ESTA.

• In most cases Canadian passport holders are not requited to hold a U.S. visa to enter the United States directly from Canada.
  
• Canada is not a part of the Visa Waiver Program and Canadian passport holders do not need and cannot apply for ESTA.

What documentation are Canadians required to show to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in order to be admitted into the United States:
Canadian visitors must present proof of citizenship (e.g. passport, birth certificate or naturalization certificate) and a government issued photo ID (e.g. passport, driver's License or provincial health card) at the U.S. Port of Entry if entering via a land border crossing. A valid Canadian passport is required when arriving in the United States by air or from outside of the Western Hemisphere. After June 2009 a Canadian passport is required for all air, land and sea entries. A Canadian passport does not need not be valid beyond the duration of the planned trip to the United States and it does not need to be machine-readable.

U.S. Entry Requirements for Canadian Landed Immigrant
Landed immigrants in Canada with a passport from one of the 37 Visa Waiver countries must apply for ESTA if entering the United States via air or sea. Land border crossings do currently not require an approved ESTA, but Form I-94W (the green form) and Customs Form 6059B must be completed at the U.S. point of entry. Canadian Landed Immigrants from non-visa waiver countries are requited to apply for a U.S. visa.

Are Canadian citizens allowed to apply for a U.S. visa?
Yes, Canadian are allowed to apply for a U.S. visas, and in certain cases Canadians are required to apply for visa. However, under normal circumstances, Canadian citizens do no need a visa to enter the United States.

When is a U.S. Visa necessary?
If you intend to visit the United States for any other reason that tourism and non-paid business events, you may need  to apply for a  visa in advance. There are numerous U.S. visa categories depending on the purpose of your visit, and a visa can only be applied for at a U.S. consulate or embassy.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding U.S. visa or entry requirements.