Canadian passport holders now require an eTA to travel to the UK

Canadian citizens now need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter or transit through the United Kingdom (UK).

This new requirement, launched on January 8, 2025, is part of the UK’s updated entry regulations. It includes Canada, the US, Australia, and other non-European countries.

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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 (this includes settled or pre-settled status or right of abode);
You’re a British or Irish citizen;
You’re travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport; or
You live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, 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; and
The face of the person applying.

You also need to pay a fee

It currently costs £10 (CAD $17.50 approximately) to apply. This application fee is non-refundable.

Everyone travelling needs to apply

The eTA requirement equally applies to babies and children. If you are travelling as a group, each person needs an eTA.

It is possible to apply on behalf of someone. If you’re 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 receive an email confirmation of the eTA. This will be linked to the passport you applied with (so you need to use the same passport to travel).

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 your 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.

Restrictions on the eTA

There are other restrictions on the eTA. You cannot:

Do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession;
Claim public funds;
Use the eTA to live in the UK through frequent visits; or
Marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.

Note: Receiving an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You still need to either

see a Border Force officer; or
use an ePassport gate, if you are eligible.

Europe may follow suit

The new eTA requirement for visiting the UK follows a similar announcement by the European Union, which plans to launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) 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 travelling for periods under 90 days.

The European Commission planned to implement an Entry Exit System (EES) ahead of the 2025 ETIAS rollout, but delays in the EES have postponed the ETIAS launch.

That means Canadians can currently enter these European Union member states and Schengen associated countries without ETIAS.

Earlier this month, the Canadian passport ranked as the seventh most powerful passport in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index.

The Index takes into account the number of destinations passport holders from a country can access without having to apply for a visa.

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