Canada visa for United Kingdom citizens
The Canadian electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is the entry mechanism for British passport holders visiting Canada for short stays, with the published processing window of 30–37 days representing the worst-case bound — most automated approvals issue in minutes to hours through the canada.ca portal. The 7 CAD fee for this category is paid online by credit card at the moment of submission; unofficial intermediaries sometimes advertise the same product at marked-up rates of 30 to 60 GBP. The eTA is bound to the specific passport book number and is valid for up to five years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first. The eTA covers only short visits as a visitor, typically up to six months at CBSA discretion; any work, study beyond six months, or paid activity requires a separate Work Permit or Study Permit. Dual UK–Iranian, UK–Iraqi, and UK–Syrian nationals cannot use the eTA stream and must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) instead.
| Visa required | No (source) |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | No (source) |
| Maximum stay | 180 days (source) |
| Processing time | Varies — verify on the official source |
| Visa fee | 7 CAD (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
Eligibility for British applicants on the Canadian eTA route
- British passport valid for the entire intended Canadian stay, with at least one blank page available
- A purpose of travel that fits the eTA framework: short visits as a visitor, typically up to six months at CBSA discretion
- No criminal convictions that would trigger inadmissibility under Canadian immigration rules; impaired-driving and certain other convictions require advance rehabilitation or temporary-resident-permit applications
- No prior breaches of Canadian immigration rules — overstays, working without authorization, or undeclared prior refusals invalidate the eTA
- For dual UK–Iranian, UK–Iraqi, or UK–Syrian nationals: application through the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) stream rather than the eTA
- Truthful answers on the eTA form to all background, inadmissibility, and travel-history questions
- A valid email address to receive the eTA approval
- A credit card (UK-issued accepted) to pay the 7 CAD eTA fee at the moment of submission through canada.ca
- For travellers planning to study or work beyond six months, separate Study Permit or Work Permit applications
- Travel insurance with sufficient medical coverage for the duration of the visit (recommended though not formally required for eTA)
Documents checklist
- British passport valid for the entire intended Canadian stay, with at least one blank page
- Online eTA application submitted through the canada.ca portal — no paper form, no service-centre intake
- Email address that the eTA approval can be delivered to
- Credit card to pay the 7 CAD eTA fee at the moment of submission
- Round-trip flight reservation supporting the stated travel dates (not required for the eTA itself but typically requested at the airline check-in counter)
- Hotel booking, AirBnB confirmation, or invitation letter from a Canadian host
- Travel insurance policy with sufficient medical coverage for the duration of the stay
- Sufficient funds evidence — bank statements or credit-card statements available at the port of entry if requested
- Disclosure of any previous criminal convictions, prior visa refusals, or removal orders on the eTA form
- Onward-travel evidence to satisfy CBSA at the port of entry where applicable
- For dual UK–Iranian, UK–Iraqi, or UK–Syrian nationals: Temporary Resident Visa application instead of an eTA
- For travellers planning to study or work beyond six months: separate Study Permit or Work Permit documentation
Application steps
- Confirm British passport validity covers the entire intended Canadian stay, with at least one blank page available.
- Determine the correct stream — eTA for ordinary British citizens, or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for dual UK–Iranian, UK–Iraqi, or UK–Syrian nationals.
- For the eTA route, navigate to the official canada.ca eTA portal and complete the online application form in full.
- Provide the passport book number, contact details, employment information, and answers to background and inadmissibility questions on the form.
- Pay the 7 CAD eTA fee online by credit card at the moment of submission; UK-issued cards are accepted directly through the official portal.
- Wait for the eTA approval, which is delivered to the email address provided on the form; most automated approvals issue in minutes to hours, with the worst-case bound at 30–37 days when referred for manual review.
- Verify the eTA approval is linked to the correct passport book number; the eTA is bound to that specific passport, so a passport renewal voids the existing eTA.
- On arrival in Canada, present the passport at the airline check-in counter (the eTA is verified electronically) and at the port of entry to CBSA.
- For travellers planning to study or work beyond six months, follow the separate Study Permit or Work Permit process instead.
Processing time
Varies — verify on the official source
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): 7 CAD (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
The 7 CAD fee for the Canadian electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is one of the lowest visa-equivalent charges in the world, and it is paid online by credit card at the moment of submission through the official canada.ca portal.
There are no biometrics or service-centre fees for an eTA — the entire process is electronic — and the 7 CAD covers a single authorization that remains valid for up to five years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first. Unofficial intermediaries sometimes advertise the eTA at marked-up rates of 30 to 60 GBP for the same product; the only authoritative form is on canada.ca and accepts UK-issued cards directly.
The 7 CAD figure is reviewed periodically by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the rate in force at the moment of payment is the one that applies; the fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Common mistakes to avoid
The 7 CAD eTA carries a 30–37 day worst-case window because automated approvals can drop into manual review without warning, and most British applicants fall into avoidable traps before that point.
- Paying through unofficial third-party sites that charge 30–60 GBP for the same 7 CAD authorization — the only authoritative form lives on canada.ca and the official portal accepts UK-issued credit cards directly.
- Letting the eTA approval be tied to a passport that is then renewed before travel; the authorization is bound to the specific passport book number, not to the traveller, and a new passport voids the old eTA.
- Mistaking the eTA for a long-stay permit — it covers only short visits as a visitor, and any work, study beyond six months, or paid activity needs a separate work or study permit.
- Travelling with an emergency UK passport when the eTA is linked to the standard ten-year passport; emergency travel documents need their own application or a paper visa.
- Failing to disclose past UK or Schengen refusals on the eTA form, which automatically routes the case into the manual-review queue that explains the 30–37 day tail.
- Holding dual UK–Iranian, UK–Iraqi, or UK–Syrian nationality and applying through eTA rather than the Temporary Resident Visa stream, which is the correct route for designated countries.
- Booking flights for the same day as the eTA application; even instant approvals carry a small percentage of manual referrals that take days, so leaving 72 hours of buffer is the conservative default.
Country context & recent trends
Recent rule changes
The Canadian eTA programme has been refined repeatedly since launch: dual UK–Iranian, UK–Iraqi, and UK–Syrian nationals are now routed to the Temporary Resident Visa stream rather than the eTA, the eTA is now bound to the specific passport book number rather than the holder, and IRCC has tightened the questionnaire on prior refusals. Within the published 30–37 day window, the median case clears in minutes to hours through automated approval; the upper bound applies when the case is referred for manual review.
Peak-season patterns
British eTA demand peaks ahead of the December and February school-break windows, and again in June ahead of the summer holiday season. Manual-review referrals fluctuate independently of seasonality and turn on individual case factors (prior refusals, dual nationality, criminal-history disclosures), so the practical advice is to apply at least three working days before the planned departure even when most approvals issue almost instantly.
How it compares to nearby destinations
British travellers comparing Canada with neighbouring North American destinations face very different regimes. The table below sets the Canadian figure shown alongside indicative figures for nearby alternatives.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (eTA) | Yes (eTA) | 30–37 days (worst case) | 7 CAD |
| United States (ESTA / VWP) | No (ESTA required) | Minutes to 72 hours | ~21 USD |
| Mexico (FMM) | No (visa-free up to 180 days) | Same-day issuance | ~50 USD if exiting via air |
| Bahamas (Visitor) | No (visa-free up to 8 months) | Direct entry | 0 |
The Canadian eTA at 7 CAD is among the lowest-fee electronic-authorization regimes in the world; the United States ESTA carries a higher fee and typically faster turnaround. Both are end-to-end electronic and bound to the specific passport book number.
Frequently asked questions
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How long does the Canadian eTA take to process for British applicants?
The published range for this category is 30–37 days, which is the worst-case bound; the median case clears in minutes to hours through automated approval. The upper bound applies when the case is referred for manual review on factors such as prior refusals or dual nationality.
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How much does the Canadian eTA cost from the UK?
The eTA fee for this category is 7 CAD, paid online by credit card at the moment of submission through the canada.ca portal. Unofficial intermediaries sometimes advertise the same product at marked-up rates of 30 to 60 GBP; the only authoritative form lives on canada.ca.
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Can I apply online for a Canadian eTA?
Yes — the eTA is an end-to-end online product with no biometrics or service-centre intake, completed at canada.ca and approved by email. UK-issued credit cards are accepted directly through the official portal.
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How long does an eTA last?
An approved eTA is valid for up to five years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first. The eTA is bound to the specific passport book number, so a passport renewal voids the existing eTA and requires a fresh 7 CAD application.
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Can I work or study on an eTA?
No — the eTA covers only short visits as a visitor, typically up to six months at CBSA discretion. Any work, study beyond six months, or paid activity requires a separate Work Permit or Study Permit application, which carries its own application form, fee, and processing time.
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What if I have dual UK–Iranian, UK–Iraqi, or UK–Syrian nationality?
Dual nationals from countries on the designated list cannot use the eTA stream and must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) instead. The TRV application carries a different fee, requires biometrics, and runs longer than the eTA processing window.
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What happens if my Canadian eTA is refused?
The refusal email cites the specific ground for refusal and indicates whether a TRV application is the appropriate next step. The 7 CAD fee is non-refundable, and any future eTA or TRV application must disclose the refusal in answer to the immigration-history question.