Canadian passport holders now need an eTA to travel to the UK. This new requirement was launched on January 8, 2025, and is part of the UK’s updated entry regulation. It includes Canada, the US, Australia, and other non-European nations.
Previously, Canadian passport holders could travel to the UK without prior authorization for short-term visits of up to six months.
This new change applies to all Canadians visiting the UK for tourism, visiting friends and family, study, or business, as long as it’s under six months.
Here’s what you need to know about this eTA:
There Are Certain Exemptions
You do not require an eTA in advance if
- You already have a UK visa
- You have permission to live, work, or study in the UK
- You are a British or Irish citizen
- You are traveling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
- You live in Ireland and are traveling from Jersey, Ireland, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man
You Can Apply For The eTA Online
You can apply directly online through the UK government’s website or through the UK ETA app.
It takes roughly ten minutes to apply. You may need to upload or take photos of:
- Your passport
- The face of the person applying
You Also Need To Pay A Fee
Canadian passport holders now need an eTA to travel to the UK.
Well, it presently costs £10 to apply. Note that this application fee is non-refundable.
Everyone Traveling Needs To Apply
The eTA requirement equally applies to babies as well as children. If you are traveling as a group, each person requires an eTA.
It is possible to apply on behalf of someone. If you are applying for someone who is not with you, you should apply online.
To apply, you need your passport, access to email, and a mode of payment (credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay).
It Takes Roughly Three Days To Receive
According to the UK government website, you will most likely get a decision within three working days.
You will get an email confirmation from the eTA. This will be linked to the passport you applied for.
Note: If you’re planning to travel soon, make sure to apply for an eTA before your trip. You can still travel to the UK while the application is being processed.
It’s Valid For Two Years
You can travel to the UK as many times as you want within this two-year period.
You can stay in the country for up to six months with each visit.
If you wish to stay longer than six months at a stretch, you must apply for a visa.
Restriction On The eTA
Canadian passport holders now need an eTA to travel to the UK. However, there are certain restrictions on the eTA. You cannot:
- Claim public funds
- Do paid/ unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person until and unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
- Use the eTA to live in the UK through frequent visits
- Marry/ register a civil partnership or provide notice of marriage or civil partnership
Note: Receiving an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You might still need to either
- use an ePassport gate, if you are eligible
- see a Border Force officer
Europe May Follow Suit
The new eTA requirement for visiting the UK follows a similar declaration by the European Union, which plans to launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System for passport holders from approximately 60 countries.
These countries include Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia.
Once ETIAS has been implemented, Canadian passport holders will need to submit an online ETIAS application to visit 30 countries in the Schengen Area, including France, Italy, Germany, and Spain.
Currently, Canadian passport holders only require a valid passport to enter these countries if traveling for periods under 90 days.
The European Commission planned to implement an Entry-Exit System ahead of the 2025 ETIAS rollout, but delays in the EES have postponed the ETIAS launch.
That means Canadians can presently enter these European Union member states and Schengen-associated countries without ETIAS.
Earlier this month, the Canadian passport ranked as the seventh most powerful in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index.
The Index includes the number of destinations passport holders from a country can access without having to apply for a visa.
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