Canada issues important new travel advisory update for the U.K.
If you’re travelling from Canada to the U.K., make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest important advisories issued by the government.
On Tuesday, the Government of Canada issued an update for travellers heading to the U.K. According to the statement, Canadians must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before they plan to travel or transit through the U.K. It also notes that you can only use the same passport used for your ETA application.
What is an ETA?
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According to a release from the Home Office, 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.
The ETA was created to deliver a more “streamlined, digital immigration system” for travellers passing through the U.K. border.
Although it was first implemented in 2025, starting on Feb. 25 this year, eligible visitors without an ETA won’t be able to board their transport and cannot legally travel to the U.K.
You don’t need an ETA if you’re transiting through an airport in the U.K. without passing border control or if you’re a dual national travelling on your British, Irish, or British overseas territories citizen passport. You also don’t need an ETA if you already have a visa or permission to live, work, or study in the U.K.
However, Canadian citizens travelling as tourists or transiting through the country need an ETA to pass through the U.K. border control. The requirement applies to travellers who don’t need a visa for short stays of up to six months or don’t have a U.K. immigration status.
How to apply for an ETA
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Canadians should be careful of fraudulent or overpriced websites offering ETAs. You should only apply for an ETA by visiting the official U.K. government website or using the U.K. ETA app. You can download the app from the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Currently, it costs £16 or roughly C$30 to apply per person, but the cost could increase to £20 or C$37 in the future. You must apply at least three business days before you plan to travel. Most applicants receive an automatic decision within minutes when applying through the app.
In addition to paying the fee, you’ll need to provide your contact and passport details, provide a valid photo, and answer a set of suitability and criminality questions.
Your ETA is valid for two years and will allow you to travel to the U.K. as many times as you want.
“If you get a new passport, you will need to apply for a new ETA,” the Canadian government states.