Canadian eTA

From the Government of Canada's Website:
"Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)"

Answer a few questions to make sure that you need an eTA and then apply for one online. The eTA is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Applying for an eTA is a simple and inexpensive ($7 Canadian) online process that will take just a few minutes. Most eTA-eligible applicants will get their authorization within minutes of submitting the online form. You must have a valid passport, an email address and a credit card to complete the online form. You can only apply for one person at a time. For example, for a family of three people, you will need to complete and submit the form three times.

In December 2013, the Canadian government announced intention to introduce an electronic travel authorization system (eTA) similar to the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization as part of an action plan to establish a common approach to screening visa-exempt foreign nationals. Privacy Commissioner of Canada expressed concern over the plan. An eTA will become mandatory for all visa-free eligible nationals (except US citizens) arriving by air beginning on March 15, 2016. Travelers are able to apply early as of August 1, 2015. eTA won't be necessary for overland entry or entry by sea, but solely for arriving by air. Citizens of the United States and citizens of France who are resident in Saint Pierre and Miquelon are exempt, as well as Permanent Residents of Canada.  Visitors apply through Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada website and are required to pay a cost recovery fee. Visitors have to provide biographic details, passport and background information that is otherwise required in visa applications. Other required data includes information on additional citizenships, available funds, employment information and contact details including residential address. Applicants also have to answer questions about their health, immigration history and on any convictions they may have had in the past. There are no questions on travel plans in Canada. Following a risk assessment of the applicant, an eTA valid for multiple entries to Canada over a period of up to five years should be issued.

^ Canada is following in the footsteps of Australia and the United States and requiring people to pay to give their personal information before they travel. Even though all three countries claim this isn't a visa it really is. If you have to pay for it then it's a visa. Plain and simple. Of course it's not that expensive ($7 CD for Canada, $20 AD for Australia and $14 US for the United States) but even if you call it something else it doesn't diminish what it really is ("a rose by any other name is still a rose.") Australia has two different online systems. One (for citizens of the EU) is free and the other (for Canadians, Americans, etc) you have to pay $20. The one for EU citizens isn't an online while the other one is. I'm not saying these countries should get rid of their online systems, but they could at least call it by it's correct name. ^

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-start.asp