Your questions answered on what an ETA is, how to apply for one and how it affects your travel plans
Starting Jan. 8, 2025, Canadians will have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to visit or travel through the U.K.
“It’s like a mini background check,” said Hasitha Jayathilake, a Calgary immigration lawyer, adding that it can be helpful for security to assess visitors travelling without a visa.
Here’s what you need to know about an ETA and how it affects your travel plans to the U.K.:
What is the difference between an ETA and a visa?
Only foreign nationals who don’t require a visa to enter a country may have to apply for an ETA.
Unlike a visa, which will need to applied for months in advance, an ETA can be applied for within three days of travel and is much quicker to obtain.
“I applied for mine a few days ago and got it in a minute,” Jayathilake said, adding that it can take up to a few days to obtain.
Canadians do not require a visa to travel to the U.K. and ergo, will need to obtain an ETA prior to travel.
How does this change my travel plans to the U.K.?
The process is fairly simple. Anyone applying for an ETA would have to upload a photo of their passport and a photo of themselves and answer background questions about their address, job, criminal history and other general questions.
Canadians looking to travel to the U.K. can apply for an ETA a minimum of three days before their trip and be approved anywhere between a few minutes later to three days.
What can I do with an ETA?
Canadians with an ETA can visit the U.K. for up to six months for tourism, to see family and friends, or for short-term business or study reasons.
Those with a Creative Worker visa concession can use an ETA to stay in the U.K. for up to three months at a time. Canadians will also require an ETA to be able to visit the country for a permitted paid engagement or to transit through the U.K., even if they’re not going through the U.K. border control.
An ETA cannot be used to stay in the U.K. for longer than six months, do paid or unpaid work for a local company, claim public funds, live in the U.K. via frequent or successive visits or marry or register for a civil partnership.
An ETA, once obtained, is valid for up to two years.
Why is the U.K. implementing an ETA now?
It’s hard to say, according to Jayathilake, adding that it could be to increase security and monitoring of folks travelling into or through the U.K. given the increase in terrorist-related attacks.
Canada had already implemented an ETA in 2016 for all travelers visiting without a visa. Visitors can apply for the ETA online and pay a fee of seven dollars.