Canada tightens entry requirements for sea arrival from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon

Most visa-exempt travellers from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon now require electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) to enter Canada by sea.

The new entry requirement applies equally to those arriving by ferry, commercial vessels, and private vessels.

The following individuals are exempt from the new eTA requirement:

• Passengers arriving by cruise ship.
• Seafarers working on commercial vessels (e.g., fishing boats).
• U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.
• French citizens who are residents of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and are travelling directly to Canada.

According to the government press release, the new policy was put in place in response to foreign nationals “attempting to bypass Canada’s pre-arrival screening requirements by travelling by boat between Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Fortune, Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The change was put in place at 1:00 a.m. EDT, on June 5, 2026.

There are no changes for travellers from visa-required countries.

Typically, eTAs are required by foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada by air, and/or transiting within a Canadian airport.

Foreign nationals apply for eTAs online. Once issued, typically within a few minutes, an eTA is linked to the traveller’s passport, and remains valid for up to five years.