Canada eTA for British Citizens

Yes — whenever you fly. The United Kingdom is on Canada's visa-exempt list, which means British nationals can visit for up to 6 months without a visitor visa. What they cannot skip is the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): any traveller flying into Canada, or stopping over at a Canadian airport in transit, must have an approved eTA before stepping on the plane. The airline confirms it electronically when you check in, and a missing eTA can mean being turned away at the gate.

There is one practical exception, and it depends on how you arrive. If you reach Canada purely by land or sea — for example arriving by cruise ship — an eTA is not required. Since almost every British traveller arrives by air, though, the eTA is effectively mandatory. You can explore the destination on our Canada travel hub or head directly to the Canada eTA page.

Thanks to British citizens' visa-exempt status, the overwhelming majority of short tourism, business and transit trips fall under the eTA rather than a full visa. Use the table below to pin down which document fits your journey:

• Who needs it: British travellers flying to or transiting through Canada.
• Validity: 5 years from approval, or until your passport expires — whichever arrives first.
• Entries: Multiple entry; each stay up to 6 months.
• Processing: Frequently approved within minutes; allow up to 72 hours.
• Passport: Valid, machine-readable electronic (e-)passport required.
• Applies to: Air travel only (not land or sea entry).

The United Kingdom is a fully visa-exempt country for Canada, so British citizens apply for the eTA directly. There is no requirement to already hold a US visa or a previous Canadian visa to qualify — a condition that applies to travellers from some other nations but not to British travellers. The eTA covers tourism, visiting family or friends, attending business meetings or conferences, and transiting through Canada to another destination.

To be eligible you must travel on your British passport, plan to stay for less than 6 months, and have nothing in your background that makes you inadmissible (for example certain criminal or immigration matters). Anyone intending to work, study long term, or settle in Canada needs the appropriate permit or visa instead of an eTA.

A real strength of the Canada eTA is how little paperwork it demands. Before you begin, gather the following:

• A valid British e-passport (machine-readable, ideally with at least 6 months' validity remaining).
• A working email address — your approval lands here.
• Basic personal and travel details (home address, occupation, and your trip information).

There is no need for a photo, biometrics or supporting documents to obtain the eTA itself.

1. Get your valid British e-passport, a credit or debit card, and an email address to hand.
2. Fill in the online Canada eTA application with your passport and personal details.
3. Answer the brief eligibility and background questions.
4. Pay the fee and submit your application.
5. Receive your eTA approval by email — it is linked electronically to your passport, so there is nothing to print.

From start to finish the form usually takes just a few minutes. Most British travellers fly to Canada from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, arriving at Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal and Calgary.

The majority of British applicants are approved within minutes, with confirmation emailed as a PDF. Now and then additional checks push the wait to as much as 72 hours, so it is wise to apply at least 3 days ahead of your flight rather than at the airport. If the system asks for more information, reply quickly to keep things moving.

After approval, the eTA remains valid for 5 years (or until your passport expires, whichever comes first). It is a multiple-entry authorization, so British travellers can return to Canada as often as they like within that window without applying again. Each separate stay may last up to 6 months, with the precise duration set by the border officer when you arrive. If you renew or replace your passport, you must request a fresh eTA linked to the new document.

The eTA is needed even when you are merely transiting through a Canadian airport on the way to somewhere else — say, connecting via Toronto or Vancouver. Because British citizens are visa-exempt, an ordinary eTA covers these layovers and there is no separate transit visa to arrange. Just make sure the eTA is approved before you depart, since it is verified at your starting airport.

• Errors in passport details: the eTA is bound to your exact passport number — verify every field before you submit.
• Using an old passport number: if you have renewed your passport, apply for a new eTA.
• Leaving it to the last minute: most approvals are instant, but allow 72 hours in case of a manual review.
• Holding back information: answer the eligibility questions truthfully; inconsistencies cause delays.
• Assuming it covers land/sea or long stays: the eTA is strictly for air travel and visits under 6 months.

An approved eTA lets you board your flight, but whether you actually enter Canada is decided by a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer on arrival. Bring the valid passport linked to your eTA and be prepared to explain the purpose and length of your visit, where you will be staying, and that you can support yourself during the trip. There is nothing to print — the eTA lives electronically against your passport.

Each traveller must have their own eTA, children and infants included, because every authorization is tied to an individual passport. A parent or guardian can complete the application on a child's behalf. When travelling as a family, simply lodge a separate application for each British passport holder.