Canada updates travel advisory: Canadians now need a U.K. ETA
Canadians travelling to or transiting through the U.K. must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel. Here is what to prepare and how to apply.
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By Torontoer Staff
The Government of Canada updated travel advice this week. Canadians planning to travel to or transit through the U.K. must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, and use the same passport for travel that they used for the ETA application.
The ETA is already part of the U.K. border system. Starting Feb. 25 this year, eligible travellers without an ETA will not be permitted to board their transport or to enter the country.
What an ETA is, and what it is not
The ETA is a digital permission to travel to the U.K., used to screen visitors before they arrive. It is not a visa and it is not a tax. The Home Office designed the system to create a more streamlined, digital immigration process for people passing through U.K. border control.
An ETA is not a visa or a tax, but rather a digital permission to travel, authorizing a person to travel to the U.K.
Home Office
Who needs an ETA
Canadians who do not already need a visa for short stays of up to six months, and who do not hold U.K. immigration status, must have an ETA to pass through U.K. border control. That includes tourists and people transiting through the country if they intend to pass border control.
You do not need an ETA if you remain airside while transiting through a U.K. airport without passing border control. Dual nationals travelling on a British, Irish, or British overseas territories citizen passport are also exempt. Nor do you need an ETA if you already hold a U.K. visa or permission to live, work, or study in the U.K.
How to apply
Apply only through the official U.K. government website or the U.K. ETA app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Avoid third-party sites that charge inflated fees or that are fraudulent. Most applicants receive an automatic decision within minutes when using the app.
- Go to the official U.K. government ETA site or download the U.K. ETA app.
- Provide your contact information and the passport details you will use to travel.
- Upload a valid photo that meets the specified requirements.
- Answer suitability and criminality questions.
- Pay the application fee and wait for the decision.
Costs, timing and validity
The fee is currently £16, roughly C$30, per person. The fee may rise to £20, about C$37, in the future. Apply at least three business days before departure, though many decisions arrive in minutes when you apply via the app. An approved ETA is valid for two years and allows multiple entries to the U.K.
Practical reminders
- Use the same passport for travel that you used when applying for the ETA.
- If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new ETA.
- Keep a copy of your ETA confirmation, though border authorities will have the record.
- If you plan to pass through U.K. border control during a transit, secure an ETA before you travel.
If you get a new passport, you will need to apply for a new ETA.
Government of Canada
Check official sources before you leave, since entry rules and fees can change. If your travel involves connecting flights, confirm whether you will need to pass through U.K. border control during your itinerary, and obtain an ETA where required.
Plan ahead, apply through the official channels, and make sure your passport details match your ETA to avoid delays at the border.
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