Canadians visiting the UK must now pay for a travel permit – National
Travelers to Canada Great Britain will now have to apply and pay for a travel permit — not a visa — before entering the country.
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), introduced Wednesday, is required for short-term visits of up to six months for all foreign travelers who do not need a visa to enter the country.
The ETA will be an e-mailed confirmation, unlike a visa which is usually stamped or affixed to the inside of the passport.
An ETA costs around $18 and allows travelers to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months at a time.
Available online and allows for multiple visits within two years.
“ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and ensure more reliable security checks are carried out before people start their journey to the UK, helping to prevent abuse of our immigration system.” The UK government says on its website.
Prior authorization “is consistent with the approach taken by many other countries to border security, including the US and Australia,” the UK says.
Canadian passport holders do not need a tourist visa to stay in the UK for up to six months, but a work visa or work permit or student visa is required.
Get the latest National news
Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you as they happen, for news affecting Canada and around the world.
Canada’s travel advice for the UK It states that Canadians must apply for an ETA before traveling to or transiting through the UK
Applications for ETAs opened in November 2024 to visitors from dozens of countries, including Canada.
The program will cover more nations in March.
The application process takes about three days, but can take longer, the UK government says.
The permit is valid for two years or until the person’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
The UK scheme is similar to the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), launch has been postponed.
When ETIAS is activated, Canadian passport holders and other visa-exempt nationals travel any of these 30 European countries They will have up to 90 days to apply for a permit.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
English