It does not matter that your eTA Electronic Travel Authorization to enter Canada has been approved; If you made a mistake when applying, you might find yourself wanting to visit that country.

The most complicated thing is that we can be sure that there is no mistake, when the reality is that there is. Therefore, if you incur this, it is better to redo the process so as not to risk it.

Andres Boza, travel hacker and Facebook group moderator I am Tico Explorer, warns that the decision is linked to the passport number, when the traveler still has the old document, that is, the one that is not biometric.

A travel hacker It is this person who manages to optimize the use of travel resources for his benefit, finding better prices. As for the group I am Tico Exploreris a space where travelers can ask questions about different destinations or advice on going abroad. In this link you can register for free to receive flight offers from Costa Rica to different destinations.

“The main mistake that Costa Ricans can make when filling out their electronic travel authorization to travel to Canada, known as eTA, is to put the passport number instead of the sequence number in the case of former passports, which are not biometric. The instructions and user guide in Spanish clearly state that the number they need is the number of the document or notebook, and in fact they highlight it in green on some of the images that accompany the instructions.

“Inclusively, these instructions mention a number consisting of letters and numbers, which obviously does not happen in the case of the old passport number, which is the same number of the identity card. There are many people who say that the sequence number has fewer characters than what the Canadian authorities indicate, but it seems to me that they do not consider that these authorities have not taken into account countries with a population relatively small like ours,” Boza said. .

The specialist reiterated that placing your ID number in the passport number space can prevent you from boarding. Remember that the eTA is linked virtually and not physically to your travel document, as is the case with many visas.

For those with old passports, the number corresponds to the sequence number, located at the top right.

If you make this mistake and arrive at the airport, you may be asked to reapply for eTA, at the risk of running out of time and missing your flight.

“I can bring the experiences of some travelers in the group (I am a Costa Rican explorer) who have already tried to travel to Canada and had problems at airports abroad because the passport number did not comply with the alphanumeric characteristic.

“These people were able to resolve the problem after multiple communications with Canadian immigration authorities, but I recommend that those who have already obtained their eTA with their identification number to apply again with their sequence number. It only takes a few minutes to process, maybe less since they know the form and it only costs $5.5. I think it’s a good investment in peace of mind,” Boza pointed out.

Those who already have a biometric passport do not run this risk, since the number is no longer the identity card.

Remember that the eTA can be obtained by Costa Ricans who have a valid visa from the United States or who have had a visa from Canada within the last 10 years. If you do not meet any of these conditions, you must apply for a visa.

In addition, the eTA only allows you to enter Canada by air; If you plan to do it by land or on a cruise, for example, you need a visa.

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