eTA

For German citizens, the entry to Canada through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is quite simple. In addition to an approved eTA application, you also need a valid German passport and a valid return ticket.

The eTA application can be made at the following link. eTA application. The forms can also be displayed in German, to be sure that you understand and fill in everything correctly. The fee for the application is 7CAD. It can be payed either by credit card or Paypal. Approval can be immediate, but it can also take a few hours or days. So don't get impatient if it takes a little while.

However, an approved application does not guarantee that you will actually be allowed to enter Canada. The decision is made by the immigration officer on site at the respective airport of entry. eTA is only valid for tourists and for a maximum stay of 6 months at a time. The eTa application is valid for 5 years and you can enter Canada as often as you like during this time.

If you enter the country by land, you do not need an eTA!!! 

APIS

The abbreviation stands for Advance Passenger Information System. This allows additional relevant passenger data to be collected by the authorities prior to flight departure. APIS data can be submitted in various ways:
- When booking a flight
- When booking a flight with the airline via an online form.
- Filling out a paper form e.g. at the check-in at the airport

Immigration and customs

To speed up the entry process, you will be given a customs form to fill out on the plane before arrival. 

At the airport of entry, you are automatically guided to the hall where immigration to Canada takes place. For some time now there are machines that speed up and facilitate the entry. Here, too, you can register at the machines in your native language. To make sure that you fill in anything correctly, we would recommend this. At the machines you get a printout with which you then proceed to the immigration officer. From the officer you get the stamp in your passport. Then you pick up your suitcase and go through customs. Here you hand in the customs form that you filled in on the plane. Everyone has to go through this procedure, even if you have a connecting flight within Canada.

If you have a connecting flight, you again have to check in your luggage right after customs. Most of the time you also have to go through security again. Afterward you can head on to your new gate to continue your flight. For such a connecting flight in Canada we would recommend to plan at least 2 hours time.