UK ETA for Canadian Citizens: Requirements, Cost & How to Apply (2026 Guide)
Canadian citizens have needed a UK ETA since 8 January 2025. The authorisation currently costs £20 (~€23) government fee + handling fee depending on the service plan you choose (€46 / €96 / €146) – Total cost: €69 Regular | €119 Priority | €169 Dedicated Agent. Discounts apply, stays valid for two years with unlimited entries, and most applications are approved within minutes. You can complete the whole process from your phone, in one sitting, through our guided UK ETA application for Canadian citizens — no printed forms, no appointment.
Do Canadian Citizens Need a UK ETA?
Yes. Decades of visa-free travel between Canada and the UK — built on Commonwealth ties, shared history, and millions of family connections — no longer mean entry without prior authorisation. The UK ETA for Canadian citizens is a mandatory pre-travel step for tourism, business, visiting family, or transit — checked by the airline before boarding, not on arrival.
The transitional grace period has ended. Airlines, ferry and rail operators must now deny boarding to any passenger without a valid ETA. There is no flexibility left at check-in — not even for frequent, long-time visitors.
Key Facts & Figures
A quick snapshot of the numbers that actually matter when planning a trip from Canada to the UK:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Canada population (2026) | ~41.4 million (Statistics Canada) |
| Canadian visits to the UK (2023) | Over 1 million for the first time — 1,003,000 visits |
| Canadian visitor spend in the UK (2023) | £970 million — a record high |
| Top reason Canadians visit the UK | Visiting friends & relatives (43% of trips) |
| Average stay per visit | 10 nights (vs. 7.7-night global average) |
| UK ETA required since | 8 January 2025 |
| Current UK ETA fee (2026) | £20 per applicant |
| ETA validity | 2 years, unlimited entries |
| Max stay per visit | Up to 6 months |
| Direct flight Toronto → London | ~7h 30m–8h (Air Canada, Air Transat, British Airways) |
When Did the Requirement Start for Canada?
Canada was included in the first major wave of the UK ETA rollout, alongside the United States, Australia, and dozens of other previously visa-exempt nationalities. Applications opened on 27 November 2024, and the requirement became mandatory for all Canadian travellers from 8 January 2025.
The ETA scheme replaced the UK’s old visa-free arrangement for short-term visitors, as part of the move toward a fully digital border. It applies regardless of Commonwealth status, how many times you’ve visited before, or how long your family has had ties to the UK.
UK ETA Cost in 2026 (Gov fee only – separate processing fees of EUR 43 to EUR 143 apply)
The fee has changed twice since launch — worth knowing the current figure rather than one from an outdated article:
| Period | Fee |
|---|---|
| Launch (autumn 2023) | £10 |
| From April 2025 | £16 |
| From 8 April 2026 (current) | £20 |
Every traveller needs their own ETA — including infants and children — so a Canadian family of four visiting relatives in the UK should budget £80 in total.
Validity & How Many Trips It Covers
Once approved, a UK ETA is valid for two years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. During that window, it covers unlimited trips to the UK, with each individual stay capped at up to six months. Given that six in ten Canadian visitors to the UK are repeat visitors — many making the trip annually to see family — applying once genuinely covers years of travel, not just a single booking.
Flying From Canada to the UK
Canada has one of the densest direct flight networks into the UK of any non-European market. Air Canada, British Airways, Air Transat and WestJet between them operate non-stop routes from Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Quebec City into London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Birmingham. The flagship Toronto–London route runs around 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours. Whichever city or carrier you fly, the rule is the same: your ETA must be approved before you check in — it can’t be sorted out at the gate.
Who Is Exempt From the UK ETA?
A small number of Canadian travellers won’t need an ETA:
| Exempt | Needs the ETA |
|---|---|
| British or Irish citizens (incl. dual nationals) | Canadian passport holders travelling for tourism, business, family visits |
| Holders of a valid UK visa or settled/pre-settled status | Transit passengers leaving the airport, even briefly |
| Travellers with permission to live, work or study in the UK | Infants and children travelling on a Canadian passport |
How to Apply — The Fast Way
This is the part most people overthink. No visit anywhere, no printed form, no stack of documents — just your passport and a few minutes.
Our guided application form is built specifically to get Canadian travellers through the process quickly — plain-English steps, built-in checks on your passport details before you submit, and a clear confirmation once you’re done. No duplicate screens, no confusing jargon, no wasted trips back to fix a field. Most travellers finish start to finish in under ten minutes.
Here’s all you need before you start:
- Your valid passport (the one you’ll be travelling on)
- A working email address for your confirmation
- About ten minutes, uninterrupted
Apply with some buffer before your departure date rather than the night before — most applications are approved almost immediately, but giving yourself a short window avoids any last-minute pressure, especially if you’re one of the many Canadians booking a trip to see family on short notice.
Apply for Your UK ETA in Minutes
Fast, guided, built for travellers from Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a UK ETA if I’ve visited the UK many times before?
Yes. Previous visits, even over many years or decades, don’t exempt you. The ETA requirement applies to every Canadian traveller regardless of travel history.
How much does the UK ETA cost for Canadian citizens in 2026?
£20 per applicant, as of 8 April 2026. This applies to every traveller, including children and infants.
How long does approval take?
Most applications are approved within minutes. In a small number of cases that need a closer look, it can take up to three working days — another good reason to apply ahead of your travel date rather than on the day.
Can I apply from my phone?
Yes — the entire application is designed to work on mobile, start to finish, without needing a desktop computer or printer.
Does my ETA cover multiple trips to the UK?
Yes. Once approved, it’s valid for two years (or until your passport expires) and covers unlimited entries, with each stay capped at up to six months — useful if you’re among the many Canadians who visit family in the UK more than once.
application-eta.uk provides a guided, streamlined application process for travellers from Canada and other eligible nationalities. Fees and requirements shown reflect the published rates current as of the update date above and may be subject to change.
Sources: UK Home Office fee schedule (2025–2026 updates); VisitBritain / Office for National Statistics inbound tourism data (2023); Statistics Canada population estimates (2026); Air Canada, Air Transat and British Airways published route data.
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