Plan on visiting the United Kingdom for less than than six months? Chances are you’ll need to spend £10 on a new travel permit, the country’s government says.
All Canadians travelling to the U.K. on or after Jan. 8, 2025, with some exceptions, are required to apply for an individual electronic travel authorization (ETA).
The British government says Canadians won’t need an ETA if they have a visa; permission to live, work or study in the U.K.; British or Irish dual citizenship; or a British overseas territories citizen passport.
A valid ETA lasts for two years.
The British government says an email confirmation of a successful application will be sent within three working days. Occasionally, however, email confirmations may take longer.
The British government says Canadians going to the U.K. can apply for an ETA if they are:
Canadians heading to the U.K. for another reason will likely need to apply for a visa instead, according to the British government.
Those travelling to the U.K. using an ETA cannot stay in the country for longer than six months or do paid or unpaid work for a U.K. company or as a self-employed person, unless they are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession.
ETA visitors are also now permitted to claim public funds (benefits), live in the U.K. through frequent or successive visits or marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
The British government says the fastest way to apply for an ETA is through a mobile app, either on the App Store or the Google Play store, but there is also an option to apply online.
Travel writer and photographer Tamara Elliot told CBC News that in her experience, because of Canada’s strong passport, many of the countries that Canadians often visit do not require additional permits such as the ETA.
However, with an ETA now being a requirement for visitors to the U.K., she recommends Canadians brush up on the rules and regulations of any country they plan to visit.
“Sometimes you can get a visa or something like an ETA very quickly. Sometimes it does take a few days. Sometimes it requires going to an actual embassy and sending away your passport. So this is a very critical, important part of planning an international trip and always something that you want to be aware of,” Elliot said.
She says something as simple as searching the internet for information about the country you are travelling to can make or break a trip.
Oftentimes when booking a flight, some airlines will include information vital to travellers heading to certain countries, Elliot says. She adds the Canadian government’s website is also a valuable resource for travellers looking for more information.
When new travel permits are introduced, Elliot says it can sometimes be overwhelming for travellers, especially those who don’t visit other countries often. But she says the U.K.’s ETA is largely accessible and doesn’t impose a major inconvenience.
“It’s actually quite cheap compared to some other countries. It’s only about $20 a person, and it does last up to two years.… I don’t think that the ETA is going to be that prohibitive to people,” she said.