Canadians now have to pay a bigger entrance fee to visit the U.K.
Canadians hoping to ride the London Eye or explore Buckingham Palace will need to pay a little more to enter the United Kingdom (U.K.) after an increase to its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fee.
The U.K. first implemented the ETA in January. It allows travellers from countries that don’t require a visa to enter the U.K. and stay for up to six months.
According to the U.K. Home Office, the visa waiver system was introduced to improve border security. Applicants must provide their biographic, biometric, and contact details and answer some “suitability questions.”
“This will increase our knowledge about those seeking to come to the U.K. and prevent the arrival of those who present a threat,” states a fact sheet.
Global Affairs added that Canadians must apply for an ETA before travelling or transiting through the U.K. and must use the passport they used in their application to travel.
When it took effect earlier this year, the ETA cost £10 (C$18.38). In April, the U.K. government increased the fee by £6 to £16 (C$29.41). That’s an extra C$11 that Canadians will have to pay to catch a show on the West End.
How to apply for a U.K. ETA
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You can apply through the U.K. ETA’s app or on its website.
Since you cannot save your progress, you must complete your application in one go. The service will time out if you’re inactive for 20 minutes.
To start, upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the U.K. You’ll then be asked to scan your face with your device. Children nine and younger won’t be required to do so.
After uploading a photo of yourself, you’ll be asked to answer some questions. You won’t be required to enter your travel details.
Your ETA will be approved within three working days, on average. You’ll receive an email confirming your ETA, which is linked to the passport you used to apply. An ETA is valid for two years.
If you’re travelling as a group, each person must apply separately.
Canadians don’t need an ETA if they already have a visa or already have permission to live, work, or study in the U.K.
This isn’t the only visa waiver system that’s increasing its fee. Canadians will soon need to pay more to visit European hot spots like Spain or Portugal, as the European Travel Information Authorization System (ETIAS) fee is set to increase next year.
With files from Irish Mae Silvestre