Canada Visa for British Citizens
Authorization Available
Canada Visa and eTA for British Citizens: Your Complete Guide
On average, more than 700,000 Britons travel to Canada each year, thus it is crucial that they understand how to obtain travel authorization.
As a more efficient method of coordinating the evaluation of visitors and assessing their eligibility to enter the country before they arrive, Canadian immigration established the Canadian eTA in 2015.
The United Kingdom is one of more than fifty nations whose citizens are free from a Canadian visa under this program. This indicates that British nationals are no longer required to obtain a Canada tourist visa but may instead apply for an eTA.
Do I require an eTA or a visa to enter Canada from the UK?
When flying into Canada, visitors from the UK must have a current electronic travel authorization.
To enter Canada by vehicle, bus, train, or boat (including on a cruise liner), Brits do not require an eTA. For brief visits, they might not need a visa, but for longer or more permanent stays, they will.
It is recommended that British citizens who are flying to Canada apply before their departure date. To board a flight from the UK to Canada, the eTA must be authorized.
What may British visitors do with their Canada eTA?
The Canada eTA allows British nationals to enter Canada for the following reasons:
- Tourism, especially brief stays by visitors.
- Business Trips.
- Traveling via Canada en route to another country.
- Consultation or medical care.
Holders of UK passports are permitted to travel to Canada many times during a 5-year window (or for as long as their passport is valid).
If they are entering and departing Canada via air, British citizens with the eTA are able to transit through Canada without a visa. Those who do not meet the requirements for the eTA will require a transit visa.
FAQs Regarding Canada a British visa
From the UK, Do I require a visa for Canada?
Holders of British passports should apply for the Canada eTA rather than a conventional visa if they intend to enter Canada by flight.
The quickest and most simple option for UK people to obtain entry authorization to Canada is through the Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization application, which is entirely online.
For stays of up to 6 months in both tourist and business settings, an eTA visa waiver must be issued. If arriving or departing by air, British people must also have an eTA to transit through a Canadian airport.
People from the United Kingdom can obtain traditional Canadian visas if they are traveling to Canada for a different purpose, such as work or residence.
Can UK citizens submit an online eTA application?
For British nationals, the Canada eTA is entirely electronic. It is quick and simple for visitors from the UK to apply because there is no requirement that they submit documentation in person at a consulate or embassy.
You can submit an eTA request from your home any time of day. British citizens must fill out a brief online form with some basic personal and passport information to apply for a visa waiver for Canada.
The applicant receives notifications through email. After approval, the eTA is electronically connected to the UK passport, eliminating the need for a paper permit to be carried around.
How much time can a British national spend there?
British nationals must apply for a Canadian eTA before flying into the country. Holders of UK passports who have an authorized eTA are permitted to stay in Canada for up to 6 months for either business or vacation. Although the precise period of time allowed may vary, most British nationals are given a 180-day stay.
A UK citizen transiting through a Canadian airport when arriving or departing by plane must also have a Canadian eTA.
Depending on their trip’s objective, British nationals who desire to stay in Canada for more than six months should apply for the necessary visa.
Do I require an eTA each time I visit Canada?
To enter Canada, British people must hold a valid Canada eTA. The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization is conveniently multiple-entry. As long as the visa is still valid, British tourists and business travelers are free to enter and exit Canada as needed.
It is not necessary to submit an eTA application before each visit, although each stay cannot exceed the maximum number of days allowed.
After acceptance, an electronic link is created between the eTA and the British passport. This means that the travel permission cannot be used to make any more entries if the passport expires. In this situation, a new eTA application must be submitted using the updated travel document.
Are Canadian Citizens allowed to travel there?
As on September 7, 2021, certain conditions must be met in order to travel to Canada for leisure, business, or to see friends and family. However, because to COVID-19, travel recommendations might change quickly, therefore we advise you to periodically check Canada’s most recent entrance criteria and restrictions.
Fill online visa application
STEP 2
Make payment
STEP 3
Receive approved visa by Email
The UK's criteria for a visa to Canada
The Canada eTA application process has a number of prerequisites. Each applicant must have:
- A valid credit or debit card to pay the fees.
- A British passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of trip.
- An up-to-date email address.
The eTA cannot be transferred since it is tied to the individual UK passport that was used to submit the application.
The passport that will be used for travel must be used when applying for the Canada eTA if the applicant has dual citizenship with the UK and another country.
The length of time an eTA holder may stay in Canada will be determined by immigration officials at the border upon arrival; this period of time is typically up to six months for each trip.
British citizens who qualify for the eTA must fill out a brief online application form and submit a few basic pieces of personal information, including:
- Name
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Passport information, such as the passport number
- Dates of issue and expiration for passports
Travelers must respond to various security and health-related questions before completing their online application. It is an idea to double-check all of the data you enter because errors or discrepancies could cause the Canada eTA to be delayed or refused.
Additionally, there is an eTA fee that must be paid online with a debit or credit card.
Since the eTA operates electronically, travelers from the United Kingdom must have an electronic passport that is machine-readable. Travelers who are unsure can check their documents by visiting the HM Passport Office in the UK. All British passports issued in the last 10 years should be machine-readable.
UK citizens need a visa to enter Canada
UK travellers are not permitted to stay in Canada for longer than the allotted six-month period for trips made under the eTA.
Therefore, British nationals must apply for a Canadian visa in order to:
- To remain more than six months.
- To enter Canada for purposes other than those covered by the eTA, such as to work, study, or travel.
The Canada eTA can only be applied for if the applicant is a full citizen of the UK. Unless they also possess a passport from another visa-exempt country, travelers who hold permanent British residence or another status, such as refugee, may need to apply for a Canadian visa.
British Citizens can apply for eTA Canada online
Online Application:
Complete the online eTA application form and submit electronic versions of the required documents.
Pay eTA:
Use a credit card or debit card to pay the eTA Canada cost.
Receive ETA Canada:
Obtain a confirmed ETA by email.
In order to give enough time for their application to be reviewed, approved, and sent, British Citizens visiting Canada must submit their eTA application at least three days before to travel.
The new rush eTA processing option allows UK Citizens who urgently require an eTA to go to Canada to do so. This option ensures that the eTA will be processed within 60 minutes of submitting an application. When paying the eTA fee, applicants must choose ‘Urgent guaranteed processing in less than 1 hour’ in order to receive a rush approval.
The application procedure is simple and quick. The applicant will receive the eTA securely and electronically via email after it has been authorized. You can apply for the eTA using a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile device from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.
There is no need to print the Canadian eTA to present at the airport because it is automatically added to the applicant’s passport. From the date of issuance, the authorisation is valid for five years.
Registration at the embassy for British citizens
The UK has long-standing diplomatic links with Canada and a significant diplomatic representation there. Along with the British High Commission in Ottowa, the following significant cities also have consulate-generals:
- Calgary
- Montreal
- Toronto
- Vancouver
This is especially useful because, according to Statistics Canada, 100,000 more Britons travel to Canada each year than to any other country outside the USA.
Now, tourists may sign up to get news and updates from the British High Commission in Canada. Visitors can stay informed of the most recent travel news and advice from the UK government by using this service.
Benefits:
- On your trip to Canada, experience tranquility.
- You may plan a trip to Canada more easily by getting important safety tips and information from the UK government.
- In the event of an emergency, such as a national natural disaster, get located swiftly by the authorities.
- In case of an emergency at home, make it possible for relatives and friends to contact you quickly.
When applying for a Canada eTA through this website, British travelers can register for this service. Selecting the British Embassy registration option on the payment page is all that is required of visitors.