Essential Information about Obtaining a Visa

Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada

Prior to traveling to Canada for AAGL25, please review IRCC site to clarify your Visa requirements which vary on country of origin.  This site will walk you through what you need for your visa.  

AAGL recommends that if required, apply for a visa as soon as your attendance is confirmed. You must be registered for the meeting in order to obtain a visa letter.

Should you have any questions regarding your application, you should contact the office responsible for processing your visa application (for overseas enquiries), or in-Canada enquiries can contact the Client Support Centre.

IMPORTANT FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS

Citizens from countries other than the United States who do not need a visa to enter Canada will need to obtain an ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (eTA) before flying to or transiting through Canada. The eTA process is similar to that of the United States ESTA: travelers apply individually online here.   The fees vary from country to country.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

If you plan to visit Canada by air, you may need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Find out how easy it is to apply online. Learn how to get your eTA before you book your flight to Canada.

  1. Find out if you need an eTA.   https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html
  2. Apply on-line for your eTA:  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html
  3. Check processing times:  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html

You do not need an eTA if you are a Canadian Citizen or Canadian permanent resident or if you are a US citizen. U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement and must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport or NEXUS card. 

Request an Invitation Letter for AAGL25

AAGL will send letters of invitation if needed. In order to receive a letter, you must be registered for the Congress (available in June 2025).  Note: this letter is only to obtain a visa, and is not a commitment on the part of AAGL to provide financial support. To find out if a visa is required to enter the country, or how long an application will take to process, please check with your local embassy or go to the IRCC site listed above.  To request a letter of invitation to Gerardo Galindo via e-mail to: ggalindo@aagl.org.

Please include the following info in your request:

  • Full name as it appears on passport
  • Passport Number
  • Street Address, City, State/Province, ZIP/Postal Code, and Country
  • Email address (used abstract submission or registration process)
  • Visa application number

Letters of invitation will be e-mailed to the requesting individual, NOT to the embassy or consulate. Please allow up to three to five business days to processing your request.

Attendee information may be shared with IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). Information collected as part of these participant lists is used to identify and coordinate the processing of visa applications and, upon request, provide organizers updates of aggregate data on the status of visa applications of event participants, within the confines of the Privacy Act and at the discretion of the Special Events Unit.