Canada Visa RequirementsFor Malta passport holders
Malta passport holders need a Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before flying to Canada. The eTA costs CAD 7, is usually approved within minutes, and allows stays up to 180 days.
Malta passport holders must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) online before traveling to Canada.
eTA required for travel by air. Apply at canada.ca/eta. Cost CAD 7. Approval usually within minutes; can take up to 72 hours. eTA valid 5 years or until passport expiry. No eTA needed if arriving by land from the US. Stays up to 180 days.
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
6 months beyond date of entry
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Required Documents
For Your Visa Application
Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Apply at canada.ca/eta. Cost CAD 7. Usually approved instantly.
Valid Malta Passport
Passport used to apply for the eTA.
Email Address
For eTA approval notification.
Credit or Debit Card
For eTA fee payment.
Required at Entry
Valid Malta Passport (eTA linked)
eTA is linked electronically to your passport.
Return or Onward Ticket Recommended
Proof of departure from Canada.
Travel Health Insurance Recommended
Strongly recommended. Canada has no EU reciprocal health agreement.
Proof of Sufficient Funds Recommended
Immigration may ask about funding for your stay.
Current Travel Situation
Malta to Canada: What You Need to Know
Canada and Malta have strong historical connections through the Commonwealth: both are former British territories and Commonwealth members, with English as a shared official language. Canada has one of the world's largest Maltese diaspora communities outside Malta: an estimated 40,000-50,000 people of Maltese descent, primarily in Ontario (Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor) and Quebec. Canada is the world's second-largest country (9.98 million km2), a winter sports paradise, and home to some of the world's most spectacular national parks: Banff, Jasper, Pacific Rim, Cape Breton Highlands.
How to Get There
Toronto and Montreal have direct flights from Malta via London or Amsterdam. Air Canada, British Airways, and KLM offer options. Flight time approximately 10-11 hours total.
Money & Banking
Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD). Canada is moderately expensive: poutine (Quebec's national dish: fries, cheese curds, gravy) CAD 12-18, restaurant dinner CAD 25-50, hotel rooms CAD 150-300/night. Health insurance is essential. Banff and Jasper accommodation must be booked 6+ months ahead in summer.
Practical Tips
Toronto: the CN Tower (observation deck and EdgeWalk on the outside), the Royal Ontario Museum, the Distillery District, and a day trip to Niagara Falls (1.5 hours by bus or car). Vancouver: Stanley Park seawall walk or cycle, Granville Island public market, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Whistler (1.5 hours north). Montreal: Old Montreal (Vieux-Montreal), the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhoods, the Montreal Botanical Garden, and the Montreal Jazz Festival (July). The Banff National Park and Icefields Parkway (Alberta): Lake Louise, Moraine Lake (book months ahead, strictly access-managed), and the Columbia Icefield. Toronto has the largest Maltese community in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Malta citizens need a visa for Canada?
Malta citizens need a Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for air travel to Canada. Apply at canada.ca/eta for CAD 7. No eTA needed for land entry from the USA.
Is there a Maltese community in Canada?
Yes. An estimated 40,000-50,000 people of Maltese descent live in Canada, concentrated in Ontario (Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor). The Canadian Maltese community has cultural associations, annual Maltese community events, and strong ties to Malta. Toronto has the largest Maltese-Canadian community.
What is poutine?
Poutine is Quebec's famous dish: French fries topped with fresh cheese curds and hot gravy. Originated in rural Quebec in the 1950s, it is now a Canadian national comfort food. The best poutine is found in Quebec, particularly at La Banquise in Montreal (open 24/7, 30+ varieties). The cheese curds must be fresh and squeak when you bite them.
What is the Trans-Canada Highway?
The Trans-Canada Highway is the world's longest national highway, running approximately 7,800km from St. John's, Newfoundland (Atlantic coast) to Victoria, British Columbia (Pacific coast). Driving the entire route takes approximately 3-4 weeks. It passes through 10 provinces and is a classic Canadian road trip.
What is the best way to see the Canadian Rockies?
The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93, 232km from Banff to Jasper) is one of the world's most spectacular drives, passing glacial lakes, waterfalls, and mountain peaks. Key stops: Lake Louise (turquoise glacial lake, book 6+ months ahead for lakefront hotels), Moraine Lake (strictly managed access by reservation), Athabasca Glacier (walkable on a guided tour), and Jasper townsite. VIA Rail's The Canadian train passes through the Rockies on the Toronto-Vancouver route.
What wildlife might I see in Canada?
Grizzly and black bears (British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon), moose (all provinces), elk and bighorn sheep (Rocky Mountains), orcas and humpback whales (BC coast), polar bears (Churchill, Manitoba, October-November), caribou (Yukon, Northwest Territories), beavers, and bald eagles are all possible depending on region and season.