Canada and the USA in one trip on a Thai passport: visas, eTA, Peace Arch and Rainbow Bridge crossings

Yes, you can visit Canada and the USA in one trip, but a Thai passport holder always needs a US B-1/B-2 visa, because Thailand is not in the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA is not available. For Canada, a valid US visa lets you apply for an eTA only if you fly in. Entering Canada by land needs a full Canadian visitor visa.

Which visas does a Thai passport holder need for the USA and Canada?

The short answer: the USA needs a B-1/B-2 visa, and Canada needs either a visitor visa or an eTA depending on how you arrive. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lists 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, and Thailand is not one of them, so Thai citizens apply for a US visa at the embassy as explained in “How to Apply for a US Tourist Visa (B1/B2) from Thailand”. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) lists Thailand as visa-required, but notes that some Thai citizens may be eligible for an eTA instead.

Can you use an eTA for Canada if you have a US visa?

Yes, but only when you enter Canada by air. IRCC lists Thailand among the countries eligible for the expanded eTA (eTA-X), and you must meet every condition below.

• You held a Canadian visitor visa in the last 10 years, or you currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa (it must be valid on the day you apply for the eTA).
• You are flying to, or transiting through, a Canadian airport.
• Your stay is temporary, normally up to 6 months.
• Apply only on the Government of Canada's official eTA page. IRCC says most applications are approved within minutes; check the current fee on the official site.

Should you visit Canada or the USA first?

Your route order decides whether you need a Canadian visa. If you fly into Canada first, cross into the USA by land and fly home from the USA, an eTA covers the Canadian part. If you start in the USA and drive or take a train into Canada, you need a Canadian visitor visa.

Another option is IRCC's Transit Without Visa program, which lets Thai travellers with a US visa connect through YYZ Terminal 1, YVR, YYC or YWG to the USA without a Canadian visa. You stay in the transit area, so it suits a connection only.

Where can you cross by land from Canada to the USA?

Two crossings are the most common for visitors: Blaine, Washington, between Vancouver and Seattle, and the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls.

• Peace Arch and Pacific Highway (Blaine, WA): US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says the Blaine port operates 7 days a week, and it is the main road route from Vancouver to Seattle. NEXUS lanes are for NEXUS members only, which most Thai visitors are not.
• Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls): CBP places this bridge under the Buffalo port, with biometric processing for pedestrians, so many visitors walk across from the Canadian side to the US side.

How does the I-94 work at a US land border?

Land arrivals receive an electronic I-94, and CBP encourages travellers to apply in advance on the I-94 website or in the CBP Link app. For what happens at the inspection desk, see “US Immigration Questions on Arrival: CBP, I-94 and Customs”.

1. 1Apply in advanceEnter your passport and visa details on the CBP I-94 website or in the CBP Link app, and pay the current fee shown on the official site.
2. 2Arrive within 7 daysCBP says a provisional online I-94 requires you to reach a land port within 7 days; otherwise apply again.
3. 3Inspection at the portA CBP officer checks your passport, takes biometrics and finalises the I-94.
4. 4Keep proof of departureIf you leave for Canada briefly and re-enter the USA before your I-94 expires, CBP records it. Otherwise keep your boarding pass or other proof that you left the USA.

What are the popular Canada and USA combined routes?

Popular routes split into a West Coast loop and an East Coast loop, because the two sides are far apart and linked by domestic flights.

• West: Vancouver (YVR) → Blaine crossing → Seattle, then south along the coast. For US-side route ideas, see “West Coast USA Road Trip: SF, Big Sur, LA, Vegas, Parks”.
• East: Toronto (YYZ) → Niagara Falls, Ontario → walk over the Rainbow Bridge → the US side, then on to New York. For the New York side, see “New York to Boston, Washington DC and Niagara Falls Trips”.

Can you keep one data plan across Canada and the USA?

Yes, if you choose a plan that covers both countries, you do not need to swap SIMs at the border, and the border is exactly where you need data most.

• Open the CBP Link app or I-94 website and receive confirmation emails while queuing at the port.
• Show hotel bookings, bus tickets and onward flights on your phone when an officer asks.
• Navigate straight after the crossing and message drivers or hosts on the other side.

See USA–Canada eSIM plans

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