An Arrival Card is a legal document that passengers must fill out and present to immigration officials when entering a country. It serves to gather information about the traveler, such as their health, purpose of visit, and where they will be staying, which may not be evident in their passport.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

Purpose:

Arrival cards collect information that helps immigration authorities assess the passenger's eligibility to enter the country and to track entries.

Content:

The specific information required varies by country, but generally includes details like name, passport information, flight details, purpose of visit, length of stay, address while in the country, and sometimes health or criminal history.

Format:

Arrival cards can be paper-based or electronic.

Who needs them:

Most countries require incoming passengers to complete an arrival card. Some may require it only for non-citizens, or per family unit instead of per individual.

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a digital authorization that allows eligible foreign nationals to enter a country, often for tourism, business, or transit purposes, without needing a traditional visa. It's electronically linked to the traveler's passport and streamlines the entry process by pre-screening travelers.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

Purpose:

eTA are used to enhance border security by allowing countries to screen travelers before they arrive, making the entry process more efficient for both travelers and border control agencies.

How it works:

Instead of a physical visa, an eTA is digitally linked to the traveler's passport and is usually valid for a set period, such as two years or until the passport expires.

Who needs it:

Many countries require eTA for citizens of certain countries who are normally visa-exempt. For example, the UK requires an eTA for many visa-exempt travelers, while Canada uses an eTA for air travel