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  • Last updated: 19 June 2025

UK ETA for Canadian Citizens

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What is an ETA for Canadian Citizens?

A UK ETA for Canadian citizens is an electronic travel permission for Canadians to enter the UK. The scheme was first launched in October 2023 for Qatari nationals and subsequently became available to citizens of the rest of the Gulf countries and Jordan in February 2024. The UK electronic travel authorization has made travel to the UK cheaper and more flexible for the nationals of the Gulf as it replaced the Electronic UK Visa Waiver scheme. According to the latest electronic visa news, the UK ETA has now been expanded to include nationals from 83 countries that previously didn’t require a visa to visit the UK. Canadian nationals who were previously traveling visa-free to the UK will now require a UK ETA starting from January 8, 2025, with applications opening on November 27, 2024. The UK ETA is similar to the ETIAS which will be necessary for travelers who currently don’t need a visa to visit EU member countries from 2025. The ETA system will enhance security as all travelers will be screened before their arrival and assessed for potential risks. The UK ETA for Canadian citizens allows for short stays for the following purposes:
  • Traveling to the UK for up to six months for:
  • Tourism: You may go sightseeing, visit historical landmarks, and engage in other leisure activities.
  • Visiting family and friends: You may want to visit family and friends who are residing in the UK.
  • Business: You may visit the UK for negotiations with business partners or to attend a business conference.
  • Short-term study: You may take up a short-term course to learn a language, study an academic subject, or learn a skill.
  • Coming to the UK for up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession:
  • You’ll require a valid Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship.
  • Coming to the UK for up to six months for a permitted paid engagement:
  • You’ll require a written invitation from a UK-based organization or client for a pre-arranged event or other permitted engagement. 
  • You can be invited as a professional artist, speaker at a conference, academic, sportsperson or to do other professional work.
  • You must do the engagement within the first month.
  • Transiting through the UK even if you’re not going through the UK border control:
  • You may need to lay over in the UK on your way to your final destination.

Canadian Visitor Statistics to the United Kingdom

Canada was one of the 10 countries with the most number of residents visiting the United Kingdom in 2023. Specifically, there were 1.0 million visits from Canada to the UK in 2023. 43% of the UK visits from Canada were for friends and relatives while 40% of them were holiday visits.

Benefits of the UK ETA for Canadian Citizens

The UK ETA is advantageous to Canadian citizens for the following reasons:

Quick and easy application process

Quick and easy application process

It can be done online and only requires some personal information which we are covering on this page. The approval for a UK ETA is also quick and only takes a couple of days.

Cost-effective application

Cost-effective application

The ETA for the UK only costs a nominal amount and is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Reduced queues at borders

Reduced queues at borders

As the ETA screens travelers before they arrive, this scheme is likely to speed up the entry process and reduce waiting time at immigration. In the future, you may enter the UK without using an electronic passport gate or speaking to a Border Force officer.

UK ETA Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Citizens

Before you start applying for a UK electronic travel authorization, familiarise yourself with the requirements to make the application process a smoother one:
  • You should only be planning to stay in the UK for six months or less. If you intend to stay continuously for a longer period, you may require a visa instead of an ETA.
  • If you’ve been convicted of a criminal offense and received a sentence of more than 12 months, your ETA application will be refused. Your ETA will also be refused if it hasn’t been twelve months since the date of conviction.

UK ETA Validity and Duration of Stay

A UK ETA allows for multiple visits to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years of validity, or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever comes first.

UK ETA Requirements for Canadian Nationals

Here are all the documents you need to prepare and submit when you apply for an ETA for the UK from Canada:

Your passport

Ensure that your passport has a minimum of six months of validity.

A recent photo of yourself

  • The photo should be taken in even lighting against a plain, light-colored background.
  • Look directly at the camera and maintain a neutral expression.
  • Remove your spectacles if there’s a glare so that your eyes are visible.
  • Include your head and shoulders in the photo.

Payment method

Prepare to make the payment using a valid debit or credit card, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.

Email address

Provide a valid and working email address as all updates and the ETA decision will be sent via email.

Applying for a UK ETA for Canadian Citizens

The application process for a UK ETA is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply for an ETA for the UK from Canada:

1

Fill out the application form

You’ll need to provide personal details such as your name, date of birth, and phone number, as well as details such as your passport number, intended date of arrival in the UK, address, job, criminal history, and other nationalities (if you have any).

2

Attach the required documents

You will attach and upload a scanned copy of your International passport and a personal photo (size and format guidelines will be highlighted).
  • Attach a color copy of your passport and ensure that all four corners of the bio page are visible.
  • Upload a photo of yourself that meets the previously mentioned criteria.

3

Pay the application fee

Fill in your payment method details and make payment securely on the website.

4

Submit the application

Once the payment is successful, submit the application form and take note of the reference number.

5

Receive your ETA

Finally, wait for an email stating that you’ve received your ETA. Print a hard copy or download a digital copy onto your phone.

UK ETA Processing Time and Fees for Canadian Citizens

You can usually get a decision about your application within three working days. However, many applicants may receive a decision within a few hours. The UK ETA fee is £97. This fee includes both the UK government fees and our professional service fees.

Traveling to the UK with an ETA: Key Details

Be up to date with the latest UK entry requirements for Canadian citizens to avoid any delays in your travel plans. Here are some key points to take note of as you travel to the UK with an ETA:
  • Your ETA is digitally linked to the passport you used in the application. You must use the same passport when you travel to the UK. If you get a new passport, you will need to get a new ETA. If you have multiple passports, use the one you applied with for your UK ETA.
  • Airlines and ferry operators are responsible for checking that passengers have a valid ETA before they board the plane or ferry. When you arrive in the UK, the UK Border Force will check your ETA and may ask questions regarding the purpose of your visit.
  • After you’ve crossed border control with your UK ETA, you can travel throughout the UK without any issues. Note that you’ll also need an ETA if you’re crossing the land border into Northern Ireland.

FAQ

If your ETA application has been refused, it doesn’t mean that you’ve been denied permission to enter the UK. You can’t appeal this decision or obtain a refund, but the next step would be to address the issues that led to the refusal and re-apply for an ETA. Alternatively, you can apply for a UK visa from Canada. If you’re planning to travel for tourism or to visit family or friends, you can apply for a UK tourist visa.
Canadian nationals can travel to the UK visa-free before January 8, 2025. From that date onwards, they will require a UK ETA from Canada. If your ETA application is refused, you can apply for a UK visitor visa from Canada.
Starting from January 8, 2025, you can no longer enter the UK with your Canadian passport alone. You will require an ETA or a visa.
From April 2, 2025, all non-British and non-Irish nationals who want to travel to the UK will require an ETA or visa, even if they only need to transit through the UK. Nationals from countries who previously didn’t require a visa to enter the UK will now have to apply for an ETA, whereas nationals from countries requiring visas will not need an ETA but must apply for a UK visa instead.
If you are traveling on or after January 8, 2025, and fail to apply for an ETA before traveling or transiting through the UK, you may be denied boarding by the airline or refused entry at the UK border.

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Apply for your UK Electronic Travel Authorization today.
Simply fill out the online form to get started.

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