ETA Canada for UK Citizens

The eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a requirement for entry to Canada introduced in 2016 for foreigners travelling by air to the country. The eTA is not a physical document as visas for other countries can be, but is electronically linked to the user’s passport. By presenting your passport to the authorities, they will see if you already have the eTA approved.

This entry requirement is valid for five years from the time it is approved or until the passport expires. It allows you to travel to Canada as many times as you like, assuming the length of stay does not exceed six months per visit.
Several countries, including the United Kingdom, do not require a visa to enter Canada and are therefore eligible to apply for an eTA. Here are the essentials that you need to know.

Do you need a visa or an eTA to travel from the United Kingdom?

First of all, we must make it clear that a visa and an eTA for Canada are not the same things. With regards to Canada, a visa is a physical document that the government approves and gives you in person at the embassy or airport. Several countries must do this procedure since their country of nationality needs a visa to enter Canada.
However, an eTA is only applicable for citizens who do not need a visa to enter the country. An exception to this is US citizens, who only need a passport to enter Canada.
Another significant difference is that a visa is valid for ten years while an eTA is valid for five years. In both cases, if the passport expires before that time, the document will expire, and the permit will have to be renewed.

UK citizens do not need a visa to enter Canada; however, they must apply for the eTA prerequisite. Doing this online saves time with the embassy, as the process is approved in less than 24 hours if everything is correct. It is worthy of adding that with the eTA you can make transit flights in Canada without the need for a visa.

Requirements for travelling to Canada from the United Kingdom

In addition to obtaining the eTA, you must comply with a series of requirements upon arrival at the airport in Canada and before being allowed entry. These may vary according to your case.
In every situation, you will need to present your passport with a validity that covers your stay in Canada and at least six months from your date of entry. If your passport expires, your eTA will no longer be valid, and you will need to apply for a new one.
If you are travelling as a matter of urgency and do not have a regular passport, please note that UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are also accepted for entry into Canada.

If your reasons for travelling are for work or study, we recommend that you check the entry requirements with the Canadian High Commission. Depending on your case, you will need to bring your fingerprints and biometric data to the visa application centre, as an eTA is only valid for tourism or transit purposes.
Upon arrival in Canada, you may need to show that you have enough funds to support yourself during your stay.

Please note that even if your children are minors, if they are UK citizens, they are eligible for the eTA system. If you are travelling with children and only one parent is present, you should carry a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent. Alternatively, you can travel with the legal document granting you sole custody or the death certificate of the other parent.

There are times when having a criminal record or having been arrested, regardless of conviction, may result in refusal of eTA or entry to Canada. For this reason, we recommend that you contact the Canadian High Commission before travel to avoid any inconvenience when you arrive in the country and to resolve matters beforehand.

Is it possible to travel to Canada from the United Kingdom without a visa?

Citizens of the United Kingdom do not need a visa to travel to Canada. However, they must have an approved eTA permit before travelling.

UK citizens must complete the online eTA application form and have available:

– A passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they intend to enter Canada.
– An email where we will notify you that your eTA has been approved.
– Credit or debit card to pay for the application.

The application should not take more than five minutes to complete, where you will fill questions about your name, nationality, passport details, etc. So, we recommend that you take special care and check the information you enter several times. In case you mistype information that does not exactly match your real data, the eTA will be invalid.

Once this process is complete, during the following 24 hours ,you will receive a document in which you will see that your eTA application has been approved and that it is linked to your passport directly.

Do I need the ETA to travel from the US to Canada?

If you are a US citizen or hold dual American-Canadian citizenship, you do not need a visa or an ETA to enter Canada; you just need to meet some basic requirements, including:

– Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
– Have a legal and valid passport
– Have sufficient money for your stay
Please note that even if you meet these conditions, the Government of Canada reserves the right to refuse entry to the country for any other reason they see fit.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explained the main differences between a traditional visa and an eTA, and which of the two permits a UK citizen needs in order to travel to Canada. It is important to add that if you have British-Canadian dual nationality, then just presenting your passport at the airport is enough; you do not need any additional permits approved.
To end with, if you want to increase your length of stay in Canada, you should make a request at least 30 days in advance at the nearest embassy. This is a process that cannot be done online, regardless if you have applied for a visa or an eTA.