Philippines included in Canada's expanded visa waiver program By MICHAELA DEL CALLAR

Canada on Wednesday announced 13 countries, including the Philippines, have been included in its expanded visa-free travel program. Effective immediately, visitors who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can visit for leisure or business by applying for an electronic travel authorization or eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air, said Sean Fraser, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. "This exciting development means that more individuals from the Philippines can now embark on unforgettable adventures, explore our diverse landscapes, reunite with family and friends, and immerse themselves in our vibrant culture without the hurdle of visa requirements," Fraser said. "This expansion not only enhances convenience for travellers; it will also increase travel, tourism and economic benefits, as well as strengthen our bond with the Philippines.” The initiative also supports Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which aims to strengthen relations and invest in people-to-people ties between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region, including the Philippines, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said. "We’re making it easier for more people to visit Canada, whether they’re coming to do business, sightsee, or reunite with family and friends. Expanding the eTA program to include countries like the Philippines is also an important part of our Indo-Pacific Strategy, as we look to further engage in the region, build on people-to-people ties, and make travel to Canada easier, faster and safer for everyone," Joly said. Aside from the Philippines, other countries included in the visa-waiver program are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. Visa-free air travel will make it faster, easier and more affordable for thousands of known travelers from the Philippines to visit Canada for up to 6 months for either business or leisure. It will also help facilitate more travel, tourism and international business between the two countries, and help strengthen people-to-people and cultural ties, the Canadian Embassy said. "Canada values our relationship with the Philippines. With the well-established Filipino diaspora in Canada, along with an increasing number of students and tourists from the Philippines, we recognize the importance of expanding and simplifying travel between our countries," the embassy said. The eTA application is used by Canadian officials to conduct light-touch, pre-travel screening of air travellers. It costs CAN$7 to apply, and most applications are automatically approved within minutes. To apply for an eTA, travellers need only a valid passport, a credit card, an email address and access to the Internet. Manila welcomed Canada's announcement, calling it "an important milestone and a striking indication" of Canada’s growing friendship and trust in the Philippines." It also highlights the "great value it attributes to the Filipino community that has contributed to its diversity and dynamism," it added. "The new policy is expected to spur travel, stimulate more business opportunities, and foster greater interest for family reunification efforts," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Filipinos in Canada, where close to a million people of Filipino descent work and live - is the fourth biggest diaspora population in Canada. "The Philippines considers Canada as a close partner due to its well-established people-to-people ties and looks forward to charting a new era of engagement under this new policy," the DFA said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News