Canada digital visa: Pilot test with Moroccan citizens

The Government of Canada has announced a pilot project allowing selected Moroccan citizens who already hold a Canadian visitor visa to also receive a digital visa. This test is part of IRCC’s strategy to modernize immigration services, strengthen security and simplify travel. The digital visa, issued as a secure electronic version of the traditional visa, is designed to speed up travel, eliminate the need to mail in a passport, and simplify airline checks. The pilot will help assess the security, accessibility and compatibility of these future digital travel documents.

📌 Key points to remember

• 🇨🇦 Canada has launched a pilot project to test a digital visa with selected Moroccan citizens who already hold a visitor visa.
• 💾 The Canada digital visa is a secure electronic version provided in addition to the physical sticker in the passport.
• ⚙️ Objectives: modernize immigration services, enhance security and simplify airline verification processes.
• ✉️ The pilot does not change the Canada visitor visa requirements for Moroccan citizens.
• 🔐 IRCC confirms full compliance with Canadian and international privacy and security standards.

The Government of Canada has introduced an important pilot initiative: the deployment of a digital visa, also referred to as a digital travel document, designed to modernize how immigration documents are issued. For this test phase, a limited group of Moroccan citizens who already hold a Canada visitor visa may receive a secure digital version of their visa alongside the regular passport sticker.

This initiative is a key step in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) modernization strategy, which aims to make processes faster, safer and more efficient for travellers — especially for those applying from Morocco.

🎯 Why is Canada testing a digital visa?

Canada has been working for several years to digitize parts of its immigration system. The introduction of a Canada digital visa aims to achieve several precise objectives:

• 👤 Improve the client experience by reducing processing times and administrative steps.
• 🔐 Increase security through more reliable, harder-to-forge digital verification systems.
• 🛃 Simplify border checks and improve cooperation with airlines.
• 💸 Reduce costs related to printing, mailing and manual passport handling.
• 🌍 Test international compatibility before broader deployment.

According to IRCC, the digital visa could become a central tool in the future of immigration documentation, provided the pilot confirms its reliability.

🇲🇦 Who is concerned: why Moroccan citizens?

This first test phase targets a small group of Moroccan citizens who have already obtained a Canadian visitor visa. It is not a new application process and does not change any eligibility rules.

Selected individuals may receive:

• 📎 the standard physical visa sticker in their passport (still mandatory at this stage);
• 💾 a digital version of the same visa.

Morocco was selected due to the high volume of Canada visa applications from Moroccan travellers, the diversity of travel profiles (tourism, family, studies, business), and the relevance of testing digital tools on a significant flow of applications.

💻 How does the Canada digital visa work?

The Canada digital visa is a secure electronic copy of the visitor visa issued in the passport. It does not replace the sticker yet, but is provided in parallel for the purpose of the pilot.

According to IRCC, the digital visa:

• contains the same information as the physical visa sticker;
• is generated and transmitted securely;
• integrates with border control systems;
• is designed to be compatible with airline systems;
• allows fast and secure verification.

The goal is to make travel easier by reducing or eliminating several constraints:

• 📮 mailing the passport;
• 🏢 submitting it in person to have the visa affixed;
• 📉 risk of loss or damage;
• ⏱️ delays caused by logistics and handling.

In the long term, Canada believes that the digital visa could become a global standard for international travel documents while maintaining a high level of security.

✈️ Compatibility with airlines and security

One of the most critical stages of the pilot is technical validation with airline systems, as they are responsible for checking visas before boarding.

Airlines must be able to:

• verify the digital visa quickly;
• confirm its validity;
• detect duplicates or anomalies;
• ensure the traveller is authorized to board.

IRCC confirms that the pilot complies with all Canadian and international standards on:

• data protection,
• information security,
• privacy,
• intergovernmental information sharing.

This level of compliance is essential, as poorly secured digital documents could increase the risk of fraud or identity theft.

🔄 Does the digital visa replace the eTA?

No. The Canada digital visa does not replace the electronic travel authorization (eTA) and does not modify any current eligibility criteria.

To clarify:

• Moroccan citizens normally require a visitor visa to travel to Canada;
• Some Moroccan travellers may qualify for an eTA if they meet IRCC’s conditions, such as having previously held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years and travelling by air.

The introduction of the digital visa does not expand these rules — it is simply a test of a new document format, not a new authorization type.

📈 What impact for future travellers?

For now, the pilot:

• does not change eligibility criteria;
• does not modify the Canada visa application process for Moroccan citizens;
• does not eliminate the physical visa sticker;
• applies only to a small group of selected Moroccan travellers.

If the results are positive, IRCC may consider:

• expanding the digital visa to other nationalities;
• deploying it for other visa categories;
• reducing reliance on paper visas;
• moving toward a more fully digital immigration process.

This evolution could significantly improve the experience of people applying for a Canada visa while simplifying administrative work.

📜 What IRCC officially says

The official IRCC announcement highlights that:

• the pilot is limited and experimental;
• the goal is to gather ;
• the digital visa must be safe, accessible and easy to use;
• it must remain internationally compatible, including with airline systems;
• all Canadian government privacy and security rules are fully respected.

IRCC also indicates that travellers with questions about the pilot may contact the department using the official Web form.

✅ Conclusion

With this first test of a Canada digital visa for selected Moroccan citizens, the country is taking an important step toward fully digital immigration documents. While the rules for obtaining a Canada visa from Morocco remain unchanged, this pilot prepares the ground for a future with faster, safer and more efficient travel procedures — benefiting both travellers and authorities.