The key question is not whether Canada changed the rule.
It did.
The real question is whether that change actually gets you on the plane, into Canada, and through border screening without a last-minute problem.
Bottom line
- Some eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia can now use an eTA instead of a TRV.
- Everyone else in those groups still needs the document that matches the trip.
- A visa or eTA is not a guarantee of entry.
- If the trip also involves study or work, you still need the proper permit.
Who qualifies
The official release says the eTA change is for eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia who meet the known-traveller style screening rules.
That means:
- not every passport holder from those countries is covered
- not every travel mode is covered
- the travel purpose still matters
If you are also looking at a longer stay, keep this open: Visitor visa vs visitor record.
Critical risk
A travel document can get you to the border, but it does not replace the permit you need for study or work.
Who still needs a TRV
The release is clear that all other citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia, and people traveling by car, bus, train, or boat, still need a visitor visa.
So if you are planning:
- a family visit
- a transit stop
- a study plan
- a work plan
you still need to match the document to the real purpose of the trip.
Why boarding can still fail
This is the part people underestimate.
Even with the right paper, the airline can still refuse boarding if the file looks incomplete or the traveler cannot show the right supporting documents.
That usually happens when:
- the trip purpose is unclear
- the permit is missing
- the entry story does not match the documents
- the person assumes the eTA alone is enough for every trip
What to do before you fly
- confirm whether you need an eTA or TRV
- confirm whether you also need a study or work permit
- check the passport and the trip purpose together
- save the airline and border documents in one place
- do not treat the visa as the final answer
Short answers
Does eTA replace a study permit?
No.
Does eTA guarantee entry?
No. Screening still happens at the border.
Is every Indonesian or Malaysian traveller covered?
No. The rule is targeted, not universal.
Housing note
For travelers who plan to stay longer after arrival, the flight decision is only the first step.
The second step is where you will live, how long you can stay, and what status you will rely on next.