Canada ArriveCAN for German Citizens

Here's a fact that trips up a lot of travelers: ArriveCAN hasn't been mandatory since October 2022, and by March 2024, every remaining COVID-era entry requirement tied to the app was dropped entirely. Yet the app is still active, still useful, and still frequently confused with a completely different document. This guide breaks down exactly what ArriveCAN does today, whether German Citizens need an eTA instead, and how to use both correctly before a trip to Canada.

Did you know? Germany is consistently one of Canada's top ten source countries for international visitors, with more than 300,000 Germany-linked trips recorded in a recent twelve-month span of federal travel data — making German Citizens one of the larger visa-exempt traveler groups the eTA and Advance Declaration systems were built to process. — Germany Emerges as a Key Driver of Canada's Tourism Rebound

This is an independent guide, not an official government website. Below, you'll find everything German citizens need to know about the ArriveCAN, plus how we can help you get it right.

ArriveCAN's Status Today — Optional, Not Mandatory

Every traveler entering Canada must make a customs and immigration declaration. That obligation has never gone away and applies to everyone regardless of nationality. What has changed is how that declaration gets made.

Since October 2022, using the ArriveCAN app or website to submit that declaration in advance has been entirely optional. CBSA (the Canada Border Services Agency) repurposed the app after health-information collection ended, turning it into a convenience tool called Advance Declaration. German Citizens who skip it entirely still get processed at the airport — just through a slightly different, slower path.

It's worth being clear about this because older articles and forum posts still describe the pandemic-era version of ArriveCAN, when submitting health and contact information was legally required and non-compliance carried fines. That version no longer exists. If a source you're reading implies German travelers must download ArriveCAN before flying, it's out of date.

What ArriveCAN Actually Does Now: Advance Declaration

ArriveCAN's only remaining function is Advance Declaration — a digital version of the customs and immigration form travelers have always had to complete on arrival. Instead of filling it out at a kiosk or on a paper card, travelers can submit it online up to 72 hours before their flight lands in Canada.

CBSA states this can cut kiosk processing time by up to 50 percent, largely because travelers arrive with their declaration already prepared and simply confirm it at a kiosk or eGate rather than entering everything from scratch. A single account can also include profiles for everyone traveling with you, which makes it particularly useful for German Citizens traveling as a family or group — though at the airport itself, each kiosk processes a maximum of 5 travelers at a time, so a larger party may still need to split across two kiosks.

Participating airports where it speeds up entry

Advance Declaration currently works at 10 Canadian airports:

• Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ, Terminals 1 and 3)
• Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
• Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)
• Calgary International Airport (YYC)
• Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
• Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
• Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)

If German Citizens are flying into an airport not on this list, or entering by land or sea, Advance Declaration isn't available and isn't necessary — the standard declaration process applies instead. Note also that NEXUS kiosks are not currently compatible with Advance Declaration, so NEXUS members should plan to use standard kiosks if they want the express-lane benefit.

ArriveCAN vs. eTA — Don't Confuse These Two Different Things

This is where most confusion happens, and it's worth stating plainly: ArriveCAN and the eTA are two completely separate systems that serve different purposes, and one was never replaced by the other.

• ArriveCAN is an optional tool for submitting a customs/immigration declaration in advance of arrival. It has nothing to do with whether German Citizens are allowed into Canada in the first place.
• The eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an entry requirement. It determines whether visa-exempt German Citizens are permitted to board a flight to Canada at all.

Skipping ArriveCAN just means completing your declaration at the airport instead of in advance. Skipping a required eTA, on the other hand, means you won't be allowed to board your flight. These are not interchangeable, and no legitimate government source treats them as such.

Do German Citizens Need an eTA to Enter Canada?

This depends on German passport holders's visa status with Canada, but for most visa-exempt travelers flying into a Canadian airport, an eTA is required — regardless of whether ArriveCAN is used. Key points that apply broadly to German Citizens:

• The eTA is electronically linked to your passport and valid for up to five years, or until that passport expires, whichever comes first.
• It's only required for air travel to or through Canada. Entering by land or sea does not require an eTA for most visa-exempt travelers.
• A valid eTA allows short stays of up to six months per visit, and can be used for repeat visits during its validity period.
• Getting a new passport means applying for a new eTA — the two are permanently linked.
• Holding an eTA does not guarantee entry. A border services officer will still review your documents on arrival.

With visitor volumes this size, German Citizens are exactly the kind of traveler Advance Declaration was designed to speed up — but it's easy to assume a service like this is aimed at other, less-established markets rather than one of Canada's own top ten.

German passport holders should confirm their specific eTA or visa requirement on Canada's official immigration website before booking a flight, since requirements can vary based on passport type and travel history.

Should German Citizens Bother Using ArriveCAN Anyway? (Benefits)

Given that it's optional, is it worth the extra step? For most travelers, yes. A few concrete reasons:

• Faster airport processing. Completing the declaration in advance means less time standing at a kiosk figuring out the questions on the spot.
• Express lane access. Participating airports offer dedicated lanes for travelers who've submitted an Advance Declaration.
• Flexibility to prepare ahead. You can fill out the declaration from home, at your own pace, rather than while jet-lagged in an arrivals hall.
• Group convenience. Families or groups can be declared together under one account.

None of this changes your legal right to enter Canada — it simply makes the arrival process smoother.

How to Set Up and Use ArriveCAN (App and Web)

Using ArriveCAN follows a straightforward sequence:

1. Download the app (iOS or Android) or go to the official web version through canada.ca.
2. Create an account using an email address and verify it with a one-time code.
3. Enter traveler details using a scanned or manually entered passport for yourself and anyone traveling with you.
4. Add flight details and answer the customs, immigration, and agriculture questions honestly.
5. Submit the declaration and keep the confirmation.
6. At the airport, use the Advance Declaration express lane, then confirm your declaration at a kiosk or eGate, updating anything that's changed since submission.

What you need before you start (ID, device requirements)

• A smartphone for the app, or any computer with a browser for the web version
• A valid passport (or permanent resident card, if applicable)
• An email address for account verification
• Your flight number and arrival date
• Accurate details of any goods you're bringing into Canada

What Happens If You Don't Use ArriveCAN

Nothing dramatic. Travelers who skip ArriveCAN simply complete their declaration the traditional way: at an airport kiosk, an eGate, verbally with a border services officer, or via a paper card handed out during the flight. It takes a little longer, but there is no penalty, no additional screening, and no risk to your ability to enter Canada. The declaration obligation itself is met either way — ArriveCAN is just one path to fulfilling it.

Processing Time and Fees for German Citizens

• ArriveCAN / Advance Declaration: Free. There is no government fee to download the app, create an account, or submit a declaration.
• eTA (if required for German Citizens): Costs CAD $7, non-refundable. Most applications are approved within minutes, though some require supporting documents and can take several days. It's recommended to apply for an eTA before booking a flight, not after.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions German Citizens Have

• Assuming ArriveCAN is mandatory. It hasn't been since October 2022.
• Confusing ArriveCAN with the eTA. They're unrelated systems — one is a declaration tool, the other is an entry authorization.
• Believing ArriveCAN still asks health questions. That function ended in October 2022, along with all other COVID-era requirements by March 2024.
• Paying a third-party site for something free. Both ArriveCAN and the base eTA application should only ever be completed through official canada.ca pages.
• Trying to use ArriveCAN for a land border crossing. Advance Declaration only applies to air travel at the 10 participating airports.
• Assuming Advance Declaration is mainly for first-time or less-experienced travelers. German Citizens make up one of Canada's largest visa-exempt visitor groups, and the time savings apply the same way regardless of how often you've flown to Canada before.

How TravelDeclaration.com Can Help German Citizens

You're always welcome to complete the ArriveCAN yourself directly through the official channel. Where we come in is everything around the process: reviewing your entries for the mistakes covered above, coordinating multiple passports and travelers in one household, and making sure nothing gets missed before you're standing at the gate.

We know there are other assisted-filing services out there — what we're focused on is being the most accurate and transparent one, not the only one.

More Canada ArriveCAN Guides by Nationality

• Canada ArriveCAN for French Citizens
• Canada ArriveCAN for Mexican Citizens
• Canada ArriveCAN for UK Citizens

FAQ for German Citizens

Sources & Further Reading

• Germany Emerges as a Key Driver of Canada's Tourism Rebound