Visa information

Apply now for your travel visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Most people need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada – not both. Some people may only need their valid passport.

Find out what travel documents you need by visiting the Canadian government visa page.

SPIE recommends that you secure your travel visa before registering for the conference as cancellations after the preregistration cutoff may result in a cancellation fee.

In this section

Resources

Traveling to Canada:
• Find out the Canadian government’s Entry Requirements based on your situation
• Find out if you need a visa or eTA through the Canadian government’s visa website

U.S. citizens:
• For tourist visits to Canada of less than 180 days, U.S. citizens do not need visas.
• Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for current information.

Non-U.S. citizens studying in the U.S.:
• Traveling to Canada as a non-U.S. citizen currently studying in the U.S. may require additional steps.
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website for traveling as an international student.

If you have a criminal record, you may be unable to enter Canada. To determine whether you are criminally inadmissible and get information about how to overcome this finding, refer to the IRCC website. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials determine if you can enter Canada in accordance with Canadian law.

How to request an invitation letter for authors and attendees

Sign in to this site using your SPIE credentials (username and password).
After you are signed in, complete the SPIE Invitation Letter Request Form.
Click on the “Apply” button to begin the invitation letter request form and consider the following guidelines:
- Complete one form per person (requests for accompanying family members can be included in the same application).
- Your name must be listed exactly as it appears on your passport. Any differences could lead to delay or denial of your visa.
- Requests are processed based on the order received, and the date of the conference.
- You will receive an email from "noreply@mail.smapply.net" with a link to download a PDF of your official invitation letter after it is approved and processed. You should make sure that the sites listed here are allowed by your organization's email client to ensure you receive the email.
- Printed invitation letters are mailed by request only. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.
- SPIE is unable to contact embassies or consulates on behalf of or in support of any individual making arrangements to attend an SPIE event.

IMPORTANT: If you require changes to your invitation letter, go back to your application and add the changes to the section titled "Please list any changes needed to your invitation letter." DO NOT send your personal, identifiable data (i.e. date of birth, passport information, etc.) via email.