Canada’s magnanimous gesture to the citizens of the Philippines and 12 other fortunate nations is a testament to its reputation for politeness.

The announcement sounds like a golden ticket to the Great White North, but alas, there’s a twist. While Filipino passport holders can theoretically waltz into Canada visa-free for up to six months, there’s a prerequisite worthy of a Kafka novel: eligibility requires a past Canadian visa or a current U.S. non-immigrant visa.

In other words, Canada is welcoming those who have already been vetted by the bureaucratic labyrinths of North American immigration systems.

So, before packing your bags for a maple syrup-laden adventure, ensure your paperwork has been previously stamped by Canadian or U.S. Immigration. It’s a heartwarming example of international camaraderie, with a sprinkle of bureaucratic hoop-jumping to keep things interesting.