FlyingDutchman6666

Proposed ETA regulations have been published in the Canada gazette in June - I missed it completely?

Highlights:

1. From April 2015, every foreign national who is visa-exempt for temporary stays who travels to Canada by air will now have to apply for (and be granted) electronic travel authorization on the CIC website.

2. Cost $7 valid for five years.

3. Exceptions: US Nationals, people holding a valid visa or permit, and countless others (e.g. diplomats, flight crew, the Queen, etc) (I find it interesting that the Queen of Canada is not Canadian and is treated as a TRV-exempt foreign national?)

Proposed regulations

FlyingDutchman6666

Oh, and it's estimated that 3 million visitors per year will use ETA. They all need to apply on the CIC website.

What could possibly go wrong?

Cabbagetown

is it still in the status of "proposed" or is this a law which has been passed?

the Queen is actually the head of Canada, so she should be exempt. During her absence in Canada she is represented by the governor general. However this raises an interesting question: Is Queen Elisabeth 2nd also a Canadian citizen? Or is she "just" a British citizen, but as sovereign over Canada allowed to reign and visit or stay in the country?

Former Lancastrian

Still working its way through Parliament. Im guessing Liz is not a Canadian citizen and requires a passport to enter Canada but exempt the ETA when it becomes law. There again the chances of someone like me checking and stamping her passport and asking if she has ever been arrested, charged or convicted of an offence is somewhat remote but definitely doable if I fancy a posting to the high arctic.

FlyingDutchman6666

The chances of you checking and stamping the Queen's passport are very remote... as the she doesn't hold a passport ! Her international travels are always passport-free.

Apparently all British passports are (formally) a request by the monarch. It wouldn't make sense for the Queen to sign a request for herself... she always requests personally at the border

JAJ

The nationality status of the Queen of Canada is not specifically defined in Canadian law. However it is difficult to see how a reigning monarch could be deemed anything other than Canadian. However, this is not the same as statutory Canadian citizenship, since it would terminate upon ceasing to be Queen and does not inherently pass on to subsequent generations.

Cabbagetown

As far as I know the Queen doesn't even have a passport and also no driver's license, even though she can drive. However, I also don't know what kind of travel document she requires when she actually travels. The Queen's travels might also only be "by invitation only" ? - however within the Commonwealth it might again be different. Prince Charles and all the other members of the royal family do have passports.

As far as I know, Canadian citizens would be exempt from ETA, since section 6 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms regulates, that Canadians can enter, be absent or reside and settle within Canada where they please. However, that doesn't exempt us from having to answer possible questions by officers at the border.... :-)