Entry requirement · Canada passport

Do Canadian citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?

Passport

Canada

Destination

United Kingdom

Canada passport holders do not need a traditional visa for the United Kingdom, but must get an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) online before departure.

Answer eTA required

No visa, but an eTA is required

Entry requirement: eTA required
Maximum stay: Check on entry
Apply before travel: Yes
Last updated: February 2026

How to apply

Checked November 2026

⚠️ GOV.UK warns that other websites imitate government services and may charge more than the official GBP 20 fee; apply only on gov.uk or the official UK ETA app. Use only the official links below.

Official route

UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)

Fee: GBP 20 (same for all eligible nationalities)
Valid for: Multiple visits over 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner; up to 6 months per visit
Processing: Most decisions are automatic within minutes; apply at least 3 working days before travel in case of further checks

Official site →

At the border

Passport must be valid for the whole length of the stay.
Nationals who do not need a visa must hold an ETA before travelling, including when transiting through UK passport control.
Be ready to show that you will leave at the end of the visit, can support yourself, and can pay for your return or onward travel.
Visitors can usually stay up to 6 months per visit; an ETA does not guarantee entry.
British and Irish citizens (including dual nationals) do not need an ETA but must travel on a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement.

Recent changes

April 2025: ETA fee rose from GBP 10 to GBP 16 (9 April 2025).
February 2026: ETA enforcement began on 25 February 2026; airlines can deny boarding to eligible visitors without an ETA or other valid permission.
April 2026: ETA fee rose from GBP 16 to GBP 20 (8 April 2026).

Official source: GOV.UK - UK Visas and Immigration (Home Office) · Not yet confirmed officially: consularVisa.processing: typical decision time (often quoted as about 3 weeks) not stated on the page read

What Canada passport holders need to do

Apply on the official government website or app before you book non-refundable travel.
Pay the fee and wait for approval, which usually arrives by email within minutes to a few days.
Travel with the same passport you used in the application.

Canada is one of 54 passports in the “eta required” group for the United Kingdom. See the full United Kingdom visa requirements for every passport.

Other easy destinations in Europe for Canada passport holders

The United Kingdom is one of 7 destinations in the “eta required” group for the Canada passport, which ranks #8 worldwide with a mobility score of 160. Of 46 destinations in Europe, 45 need no visa arranged in advance; the easiest are listed below.

Destination	Requirement	Max stay
Albania	Visa-free	90 days
Andorra	Visa-free	90 days
Austria	Visa-free	90 days
Belarus	Visa-free	30 days
Belgium	Visa-free	90 days
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Visa-free	90 days
Bulgaria	Visa-free	90 days
Croatia	Visa-free	90 days
Cyprus	Visa-free	90 days
Czech Republic	Visa-free	90 days
Denmark	Visa-free	90 days
Estonia	Visa-free	90 days