The Canadian Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced the launch of a limited pilot project to issue Digital Visas for a small number of Moroccan citizens holding a Canadian visitor visa, in a move that is the first of its kind in the country’s history.
Under this pilot project, selected participants will receive an electronic version of their entry visa in addition to the traditional sticker found in their passport.
The ministry clarified that the main goal is to test the readiness of the new digital system and gather feedback from travelers before it is rolled out on a larger scale.
The ministry’s spokesperson said in a press release: “We want to make travel to Canada faster, safer, and more convenient. The digital visa will reduce the need to send passports by mail, and will allow travelers to share only the necessary information with airlines and border authorities.” The ministry confirmed that the digital visa:
- meets the highest standards of Canadian and international cybersecurity
- does not replace the traditional sticker in the passport during the pilot phase
- is stored in a secure electronic portal that the traveler can access at any time
Why Morocco?
Morocco is the country chosen to trial the visa in the first phase, which is explained by the high number of applications submitted by its citizens and the good record of cooperation between the two countries on the immigration file.
The ministry added that participation in the pilot project is entirely optional, and qualified applicants will be automatically notified upon approval of their requests if selected.
On another note, the ministry reminded Moroccan travelers of the possibility of utilizing the electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of the traditional visa when traveling by air, and urged them to check their eligibility through the official website.
The results of this pilot project are expected to contribute to shaping the future of digital travel documents in Canada, and possibly in other countries around the world in the coming years.
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