ETA required
Canadians need a UK ETA
ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025
Canadians used to enter the UK visa-free with a passport only. From January 2025 you need an electronic travel authorisation first. Direct routes such as YYZ–Heathrow and YVR–Gatwick will not board you without it. The fee is £20 through GOV.UK. Validity is two years or until the passport expires. Each person in the family, including infants, needs their own ETA. Canadian dual nationals who also hold a British passport should use the British one. Irish citizens resident in Canada still travel as Irish — no ETA — if they use the Irish passport. eTA Canada (for flying into Canada) is a different product; it does not authorise UK travel.
Canadian travel facts
| Passport | Canada |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025 |
| What you need | UK ETA (£20) |
| Stay | Usually up to 6 months as a visitor |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | ETA required if you pass UK border control |
Mistakes canadians make
- Confusing Canada’s own eTA with the UK ETA. They are unrelated.
- Applying on a mobile site that is not GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app.
- Letting a child’s passport expire after the ETA is granted — the ETA dies with the passport.
London notes for Canadian arrivals
Pearson and Vancouver flights typically arrive at Heathrow Terminals 2 or 3. Contactless tap-in on the Elizabeth line gets you to Paddington without buying a paper ticket. Winter arrivals: keep a physical backup card — some US/Canada cards still fail a TfL reader; Apple/Google Pay usually works.
FAQs
- Do Canadians need a UK visa for a two-week holiday?
- No visa if you are a visitor — you need a UK ETA instead. That is not the same as Canada’s eTA.
- I have a Canadian PR card and an Indian passport. What do I use?
- The UK looks at the passport you present. Indian passports are not eligible for an ETA; you would need a visitor visa.
- How long can I stay?
- An ETA supports visits of up to six months. It does not let you live or work in the UK.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.