Passport & Visa Information

IMPORTANT: You are responsible for obtaining the proper travel documents for the destinations on your itinerary.

Passports: Your Canadian passport should be valid at least 6 months or longer beyond the dates of travel. Passport applications are available online, at a Service Canada Centre, or passport office. To learn how to apply for a Canadian passport including expedited services, click here. Travelers requiring visas, whether obtained in advance or locally upon arrival, should ensure that their passport has unstamped visa pages.

Visas: If a visa is required and cannot be obtained upon arrival in your destination, you should make arrangements with the appropriate foreign consular representative, allowing enough time for mailing and processing. Alternatively, you may obtain a visa through a fee-based service such as GEN VISA. Please note that GEN VISA is unable to assist travelers who choose to apply for their visas directly.

Double Entry/ Multiple Entry Visas: If your itinerary involves entering a country, leaving and then later re-entering the same country, you may require a double-entry or multiple entry visa. Be sure to describe your itinerary clearly when contacting a foreign consular representative.

Transit Visas: In most situations, you will not need a visa if you are only visiting a country on a connecting flight. This is usually the case for travelers who are not staying in a country for more than 12 hours and/or are not leaving the airport. However, a country may require you to obtain a transit visa depending on your citizenship and flight schedule. When checking the entry requirements for countries on your itinerary, be sure to include those you are transiting through as well.

Entry Requirements for Canadian Passport Holders: Country details below are based on information obtained from the Canadian Government and foreign consulars in Canada. This information is subject to change. To check for updates, please check with the consular office of the countries to be visited and/or click here.

Non-Canadian Citizens: All information provided below pertains to Canadian passport holders only. Non-Canadian Citizens should check with the appropriate foreign consular representative.

Sea Cruise Travelers: Travelers on sea cruises should check carefully the requirements for each country to be visited on their sailing itinerary. Travelers without the correct documentation may be denied boarding at time of embarkation. Travelers may contact their sea cruise line directly for information but remain responsible to obtain any necessary visas.


SAFETY AND SECURITY

Health, Safety, and Security are our top priorities: We maintain a strong network of tour managers, local offices, ground operators, and trusted partners to help us stay informed in the destinations where we operate. We closely monitor local situations, allowing us to make informed operational decisions to keep our tours running safely. While millions of people travel the world each year and enjoy safe and memorable experiences, it is important to remember that crimes against people and property can happen anywhere. To protect yourself, stay aware of your surroundings and avoid drawing unnecessary attention. As always, stay mindful of your personal safety and belongings, just as you would in your everyday environment.

Global Affairs Travel Advice and Advisories (TAA): Global Affairs issues travel advice and advisories for all countries with the most up-to-date travel advice regarding the countries you will be visiting. This site offers valuable information on topics such as safety and security, health precautions and medications, travel insurance, and additional tips for traveling abroad. If you reside outside of Canada, please refer to your own government's travel advisory website for country-specific guidance. To review this, click here.


International Entry & Visa Requirements for Canadian Passport Holders

Countries listed below require specific passport and/or visa information in addition to a Canadian passport. All other countries (not listed) do not require extra identity forms but may have extra health requirements. For health care requirements, click here.

Making the Visa Process Easier: For some countries, especially China and Russia, obtaining a visa can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Gate 1 suggests using a fee-based service like GenVisa when applying for your visa. Compared to guests who apply on their own, guests who use a visa service are less likely to have their applications rejected requiring re-submission for additional information or to correct any errors. Because visa services review your application prior to submission and offer guidance on how to best complete your application, they are able to make the process easier based on their years of experience working with the various consulates.

Please note that all fees are subject to change by authorities with little notice.

Click a box below to view entry requirements:

- A European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) travel authorization will be required to enter any of the 29 member countries that compose the Schengen Zone. The ETIAS travel authorization will be valid for stays up to 90 days and once issued, valid for multiple entries over 3 years or until passport expiration, whichever comes first. The cost of an ETIAS is 7 Euro. The EU has not yet announced an official start date or released the application form so please check back closer to your travel date for this form and cost. For more information click here.

Please note: Currently, the ETIAS is NOT in force and a new start date has not yet been announced. Once more information becomes available, this article will be updated. Currently, the expected start date is in the last quarter of 2026.

Countries that will require an ETIAS: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Countries that will NOT require an ETIAS: Ireland
- An e-visa is required. E-Visas are obtained online. A single entry visa costs 50 Euros (about 80 CAD) and is valid for 30 days from the date of entry. Processing takes up to 4 business days. To apply, click here. Travelers will need to provide the address for the hotel in Benin. Click here for this information. Your confirmation should be printed and kept with your travel documents as it will be checked on arrival.
Please note: The process for obtaining an e-visa for Brazil can be time-consuming and complicated. Please read the information below carefully as mistakes can lead to more costs and delayed approval.
An e-visa is required. To complete the application, you must upload a digital copy of your passport and passport photo. Although not required, we recommend uploading your travel documents as well.
There are two options for obtaining your e-visa to Brazil.
Option 1: Apply by mail through GEN VISA, a fee-based service for obtaining a visa. Once all the required documents are collected, mail them to GEN VISA. They will then submit the application to the embassy or consulate on your behalf. This process generally takes 6 weeks to complete but can be delayed for various reasons. For more information and to download the visa kit,
click here. Please note that GEN VISA is unable to assist travelers who choose to apply for their visas directly.
Option 2: Apply online directly through VFS Global. VFS Global is the official servicer for Brazilian e-visas. The cost of the e-visa is 80.90 USD paid online at the time of application. The process generally takes 5 business days to complete but can be delayed 10 or more days for various reasons. Once the application is approved, passengers will receive an email with a PDF confirmation. This PDF should be printed and kept with your travel documents, as these will be checked upon arrival. For more information and to apply, click here.
- A visa is required. One passport-sized photograph is required. To avoid delays, we recommend passengers obtain an E-Visa in advance online at least 7 days prior to travel here. The cost of the e-visa is 30 USD. Canadian citizens can also obtain a Cambodian visa upon arrival at the airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and at all major border crossings.

Additionally, all travelers entering Cambodia are required to complete an online Cambodia e-Arrival (CeA) form within 7 days prior to arrival. The form is free and asks for your passport, travel, and health information. The form will also ask if you plan on obtaining an E-Visa on Arrival. If you are obtaining an E-Visa prior to departure, select No. Otherwise, select Yes. Once completed, a QR code will be generated and should be printed and kept with your travel documents as they will be checked on arrival. For more information, click here.

For passengers booked on the Mekong River Cruise: If your cruise starts in Vietnam, an E-Visa is not available and a visa upon arrival must be purchased. After embarkation, please contact the ship's front desk for assistance. If your cruise starts in Cambodia, both the visa upon arrival and the E-Visa are options. As stated above, we highly recommend applying for an E-Visa prior to departure. Regardless of where the cruise starts, the CeA form must be completed. For the Last and Next Cities, use the overnight cities listed in your itinerary. When completing the CeA, the Type of Vessel is Cruise and the Company Name is Victoria Mekong.
Please note: The process for obtaining a visa for China can be time-consuming and complicated. Please read the information below carefully as mistakes can lead to more costs and delayed approval.

- A visa is required. Canadian passport holders are required to provide documentation to support their visa application which includes (1) full passport name; (2) hotel names, addresses and phone numbers; and (3) confirmed airline reservations with ticket numbers. For hotel address and contact information,
click here. Your airline ticket information will be provided to you in your documents upon receipt of your full payment and once airline tickets have been issued.

There are two options for obtaining your visa to China.

Option 1: Apply online and by mail through GEN VISA, a fee-based service for obtaining a visa. Once all the required documents are collected and completed, mail them to GEN VISA. They will then submit the application to the embassy or consulate on your behalf. This process generally takes 6 weeks to complete but can be delayed for various reasons. For more information and to download the visa kit, click here. Please note that GEN VISA is unable to assist travelers who choose to apply for their visas directly.

The visa application for China is complex and errors can cause delays, passengers may wish to use GEN VISA's White Glove Service. With this service, GEN VISA will complete the application for you in order to avoid errors. For more information, click here.

Option 2: Apply in person directly through the Chinese Embassy. Passengers who choose to apply for their visa directly with the embassy or consulate MUST apply in person. At this time there are five locations: the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, or the Consulate Generals in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The cost of the visa is 100 USD, and processing takes approximately 4 business days from the date it is submitted but can be delayed for various reasons.

Travelers must first complete the visa application online. The application is long, complex, and errors can cause delays. To complete the application, click here. Once the application is completed, schedule an appointment with the embassy or consulate for your regional jurisdiction. To make this appointment, click here. Your documents must be submitted and collected in person. For more information on the application process, click here.

Transit Without Visa for China: Travelers making flight connections in China to a 3rd country and desiring to stopover for up to 240 hours, you may be eligible for China's Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program. The duration of your visa-free stopover varies depending on your connecting airport. For more information about this, please click here.

If you are traveling to Tibet: For passengers who are also visiting Tibet, a group permit is required and will be obtained for you by Gate 1 Travel upon your final payment. At this time, permits may only be obtained for U.S. and Canadian passport holders. The cost of this permit is included in the package price. Important: please do not reference you are visiting Tibet on your China visa application as your application will be rejected by the Chinese authorities. Once you have obtained your visa, please upload a scanned, full color copy of your Chinese visa to your invoice no later than 45 days prior to your departure so you will be included on our group permit to Tibet.

Please note if traveling to Tibet: If you are an American traveler of Chinese nationality holding a Q2 Chinese visa (issued for returning to China to visit relatives), you are required to sign and stamp an additional document for us to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit on your behalf.

If you are traveling to Hong Kong: A visa is not required.
- A visa is required. To apply for your visa, you will first need to complete the online application and pre-pay for it, then you must mail the application and your documents to the Ghana Embassy or one of the Consulates in Canada. A single entry visa costs 160 CAD (plus banking fees) and is valid for the duration of your expected stay. Processing takes up to 10 business days from the date of receipt at the embassy. Travelers will need to provide the contact info for the hotels and local host in Ghana. Click here for this information. Once completed, the application must be printed, signed, and mailed to the embassy along with your passport and supporting documents. For more information, click here.

To complete the online application, click here to go to the Ghana Embassy in Ottawa, then click "Apply Online Now." Please note: if you are not in Canada, you will need to first access the application through the Ghana embassy in your country.
- A visa is NOT required. A traveler declaration form must be completed prior to arrival. We strongly recommend passengers complete this form prior to boarding to avoid long delays on arrival in Guatemala City. Once completed, you will receive an email with your information and a QR code. This document should be printed and kept with your travel documents, or downloaded to your smartphone so it is accessible upon arrival in Guatemala. To complete the form, click here. When asked for your arrival or departure customs location, select "La Qurora/Aduana Central de Aviacion." For your foreseen address, use the name and address for the first hotel on your tour.

Please note: Travelers on our 13 Day Culture & Adventure in Belize & Guatemala; when crossing the land border, the traveler declaration form may be requested. If this situation arises, your Tour Manager will assist you.
- A visa is required. An electronic visa may be obtained here. Tourist visas are not available to purchase on arrival. The e-visa website may experience periods of instability without warning. When applying directly, please be patient or try again another day if the system frequently crashes. Travelers to India will need to provide a reference, including name, address, and phone number for their Indian visa. Click here for this information. Five days following your initial booking and deposit, you will receive complete information via email about obtaining a visa to India. The fee depends on the type and duration of the visa being applied for. Alternatively, you may obtain a visa through a fee-based service such as GEN VISA. Please note that GEN VISA is unable to assist travelers who choose to apply for their visas directly.

Please note: Travelers staying over 30 days must apply for a 1-year visa 120 days prior to arrival. This visa allows multiple entries into India for a 1-year period from the date it was granted. Travelers may not stay in India for more than 180 days per year. Your visa must be valid for the full duration of your stay in India.

Additionally, all arriving travelers must complete an e-arrival form. This form must be completed within 3 days of arrival. During the transition period, a paper version of the form will still be available until March 2026. To complete the form, click here.
- A visa is required. Passports must have at least two blank visa pages. Tourists may obtain a visa for 36 usd upon arrival at the airport. Travelers may pay for this using USD cash, credit or debit card (VISA or Master Card accepted). An electronic visa may also be obtained in advance by clicking here. E-visas are processed within 5 business days of application. You must print out a copy of your e-visa to present upon arrival.
Please note: When obtaining an e-visa you will need to fill in the post code Jakarta (10310), Surakarta (57144), Yogyakarta (55281), Ubud (80571), and Sanur (80228).
- Jordan visas are arranged for you by Gate 1 in the following situations:
1. Travelers who have an Amman arrival transfer booked through Gate 1 Travel, or travelers who have purchased pre-accommodations through Gate 1 Travel and have an arrival transfer booked. In order to obtain the visa, travelers must provide their full passport information and, if flights are not booked through Gate 1 Travel, complete flight details (arrival date and time, airline, and flight number) prior to departure. Visas cannot be arranged for clients who have purchased pre-nights independently.
2. Travelers entering Jordan at a land border crossing on an Israel & Jordan combination tour:
Gate 1 will arrange your visa free of charge. We will request your passport information which is needed at least 60 days prior to departure. Upon arrival in Jordan, either at the Amman or Aqaba Airports or at one of the land border crossings between Israel and Jordan, a local Gate 1 representative will provide you with a one-page letter (Visa Manifest) before you reach passport control. The Visa Manifest will include your full passport information and details of your tour program. It is needed for entry and departure from Jordan. Note: In case you lose your Visa Manifest, change your schedule or choose to depart Jordan on your own, a 60 USD visa fee will apply upon departure.
3. Travelers participating on the optional Full Day Petra tour from Israel: Gate 1 will obtain a visa locally for approximately 60 USD as long as your passport information is provided to the Israel Tour Manager at least 48 hours in advance. This is in addition to the border taxes & fees.
4. In all other situations, you will need to get your visa on your own in advance of your trip. A single-entry visa costs approximately 60 USD and can be obtained in advance or on arrival at certain entry points. For more information
click here.
Please note: The included visa service applies to most nationalities. However, certain nationalities may be required to provide additional documentation. Please review the list of applicable nationalities click here. If your passport was issued by one of these nations, please contact us directly so we can advise you on the additional information required. Passport must be valid for six months beyond travel dates. when crossing the Israeli-Jordanian land border, there is a 65-80 USD exit fee. This fee is paid locally at the time of the border crossing. Travelers will be advised by their tour manager at the start of their tour how much the fee is and how to pay it.
- An electronic Travel Authority (eTA) is required. The eTA must be obtained prior to the beginning of travel and can be obtained here. While completing the application, you will be asked to upload copies of your passport, passport photo, and travel documents, along with the name and dates of each hotel you will be staying in on your trip. If you did not purchase flights through Gate 1 Travel, you must also provide confirmation for your flights. The cost of the eTA is 34.09 USD and takes about 3 business days to be processed. Although the eTA is for single entries, all itineraries that we offer fall within an exception that allows it to be used for multiple entries.
Please note if you are traveling to Kenya with an extension starting in Rwanda or ending in Zanzibar or Uganda: You are required to provide your arrival and departure flight information for Kenya. This information will be listed in your travel documents as a voucher once your flight information has been confirmed. Your travel documents will become available approximately 30 days prior to your departure. Please do not apply for your eTA until you have received your travel documents.
- A visa is NOT required. Tourist must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days prior to arrival. You will need to submit your travel and passport information online for free. To complete the form, click here. Once submitted, a confirmation will be sent to your email.

For Passengers starting in Singapore: Due to our itinerary, the MDAC can only be completed in Singapore. Your tour manager will provide more information and assist you in Singapore.
- A visa is required. An e-visa must be obtained in advance. For more information and to apply click here. E-visas are processed within 3 business days of application and cost 50 USD. Upon approval, you will be emailed an e-visa Approval Letter which must be printed prior to the start of your trip and presented to the Immigration official upon arrival in Myanmar. Do not apply too early as you must enter the country within 90 days of Approval Letter issuance.
- A visa is required. Tourists may obtain a visa on arrival for 30 USD for a 15 day stay, or 50 USD for a 30 day stay. The visa is valid for multiple entries. We recommend travelers bring two passport sized photographs in the event the automated kiosks are unable to take your photo. Alternatively, you may apply for your visa at the Nepali Embassy prior to departure. Complete the online application and upload your photo here. Once your application is completed, you will receive a submission receipt which must be printed and taken to the nearest Nepali Embassy or Consulate. Do not complete the application too soon as the visa receipt requires you to enter Nepal within 15 days of issuance.
Please note: Travelers on the 18 Day Himalayan Kingdoms: Nepal & Bhutan should purchase the 30 day visa.
- A visa is required. Tourists must obtain a single-entry Rwandan visa for 50 USD. To apply, click here, click on "Visa Application," then "Visa Application" from the request type drop down, then follow the instructions. Travelers to Rwanda will need to provide a reference, including name, address, and phone number, for their Rwandan visa. Click here for further information. You will await approval via email (approx. 7 days), then download and print the visa to be presented upon entry to Rwanda. The visa can also be obtained upon arrival in Rwanda for 50 USD. For more information click here.
- A visa is required. An e-visa must be obtained in advance and the current fee for it is 50 USD. To apply, click here. Travelers to Tanzania will need to provide a reference, including name, address, and phone number, for their Tanzanian visa. Click here for details. All passport holders should have four entirely blank (unstamped) visa pages in their passport. Please note, although visas are available for purchase at the Kilimanjaro Airport we strongly suggest it be obtained in advance to avoid long delays and ensure entry. In addition, visas upon arrival are not guaranteed and must be paid in USD (cash is NO LONGER accepted, credit or debit payment only). For more information about the visa process, click here. Alternatively, you may obtain a visa through a fee-based service such as GEN VISA. Please note that GEN VISA is unable to assist travelers who choose to apply for their visas directly. Please note that the government of Tanzania prohibits travelers to have certain types of plastic bags in their possession when entering the country. For more information about this ban click here.
Please note: When entering or exiting through Isebania, the Sirari point of entry/exit is used. Border crossing ports between Kenya and Tanzania vary by tour. For land entries and exits, click here.
- An e-visa is required. E-Visas are obtained online. A single entry visa costs 60 CAD and is valid for 15 days from the date of entry. Processing takes up to 5 business days. To apply, click here. When asked for your entry information, the Entry Point to Togo is "Togo-Ghana" and the Coming From is "Segbe." Your confirmation should be printed and kept with your travel documents as it will be checked on arrival.
- A visa is required. Travelers to Uganda must apply for a visa in advance here at least two weeks prior to travel. The fee for a single-entry tourist visa is 50 USD. Travelers to Uganda will need to provide a local reference, including company name, address and phone number, for their Ugandan visa. Click here for further information.
- An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa is required. The ETA is obtained through the official UK ETA mobile app or online through the UK Government website. The cost of a UK ETA is 16 GBP and it is valid for 2 years from the issue date. Processing times can take up to 72 hours. For more information click here.

When using the mobile app, you will be asked to take a photo of yourself and the information page of your passport. Additionally, you will be asked to scan the ePassport chip in your passport using your smartphone. When doing this, remove any cases on your passport and smartphone, then scan the back cover of your closed passport.

If you are traveling from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland: The UK ETA is required for travelers entering Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.

If you are connecting through an airport within the United Kingdom: The UK ETA is required for travelers connecting on to international flights through the UK. However, as the policy continues to be newly implemented, this requirement may be exempt for those NOT passing through UK Border Patrol. An end date for this exemption has not been announced and we encourage travelers to continue to check the official website for restrictions.

If you are traveling from Spain to Gibraltar: You do not need to obtain a UK ETA prior to entry.
- A visa is required. An e-visa must be obtained in advance here. A single-entry visa costs 25 USD and a multiple entry visa costs 50 USD. Alternatively, you may obtain a visa through a fee-based service such as GEN VISA. Please note that GEN VISA is unable to assist travelers who choose to apply for their visas directly.

When applying for your e-visa, you will be asked to select your entry and exit ports. For Ho Chi Minh City, select "Tan Son Nhat Int Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)." For Hanoi, select "Noi Bai Int Airport." For the Mekong River Cruise, the crossing point is the "Vinh Xuong Landport." If you are booked on a Mekong River Cruise that starts in Cambodia, your Date of Arrival is on Day 8.

Please note: Processing times for the e-visa may vary. Additionally, incorrect information may cause delays and additional fees on arrival in Vietnam. Please make sure all your information is correct when submitting the application and that you have received the e-visa prior to departure.