Visa-exempt foreign nationals : Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
As of November 10, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals are expected to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada. Exceptions include U.S. citizens, and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents are not eligible to apply for an eTA.
We invite you to consult the IRCC website regularly for information updates on eTA.
We have shared information about MICCAI 2017 with the Canadian Border Services Agency. Read, print and bring a copy of the official Letter of Recognition from the Agency to facilitate your entry in Canada.
Foreign nationals requiring a visa
Canada does not have a visa office in every country so it is important that delegates visit the website of the visa office responsible for processing their visa applications. Information is available on the website on how to submit a visa application and the documentation required.
Delegates are encouraged to submit their visa applications well in advance of the date of the event at a Visa Application Centre or on-line E-applications (e-Apps). Delegates that need a visa but require their passport for other travel purposes are strongly encouraged to submit their visa applications on-line (e-Apps). Delegates that choose to apply on-line will not have to submit their passport until a decision has been taken on their applications. If required, the visa office will send the applicant instructions on how and where to send their passports to finalize the visa process.
Visa Application Centres (VACs):
VACs are commercial service providers authorized by Canada to provide specific services to applicants.
VACs provide a number of services including help applicants fill out forms, answer questions and ensure that applications are complete, thereby reducing unnecessary delays or refusals due to incomplete applications. Applicants that are required to provide biometrics information as part of the visa application process can do so at a VAC. Additional information on the biometrics requirements is available at the IRCC website. VACs send applications to Visa Offices and transmit decisions to applicants in a secure and confidential manner. VACs do not process visa applications and play no role in the decision-making process.
Visa Applications Processing Times:
Processing time for visa applications vary depending on the office and the time of the year. Participants should be encouraged to apply early for their visas, and to submit complete applications including all supporting documents.
Please visit the IRCC website for information on the time it takes to process visa applications at the various visa
Letter of invitation
A letter of invitation can be requested from the MICCAI 2017 organizing team. Do send the following information in your email request to visa@miccai2017.org:
- Full name and postal address;
- Passport number, country of issue, date of issue