eTA Canada – The digital travel authorisation for Canada
Some countries are exempt from the visa requirement for Canada. Travellers from these countries can instead use an eTA or electronic travel authorisation to travel to Canada. On this page, you can read more about the application procedure and submit your application right away.
Start your eTA applicationWhat is an eTA Canada?
The abbreviation eTA stands for Electronic Travel Authorization. The eTA is an electronic travel authorisation that travellers from certain countries can use to visit Canada without a visa. British and other European travellers are usually eligible for the eTA. Unlike the physical visa you don't need to visit the embassy or the consulate to apply for an eTA. Travellers can easily submit their application online from home. An eTA can be used to travel for holiday, for business, to make a stopover or to visit family and friends for up to 6 months. In some cases, the eTA also allows you to study in Canada, as long as your study programme does not exceed 6 months. If your study programme is longer than 6 months, you will always need a study permit that you must apply for through the Canadian immigration service.
Who doesn't have to apply for an eTA?
Residents of the United States and travellers with an American passport do not need an eTA. Travellers who have previously lived in Canada and those with a Permanent Resident- or Landed Immigrant status are usually not eligible to apply for an eTA for Canada. In this article you can read what you should do in this situation.
The application procedure
To apply for an eTA, you need to complete a short application form and pay the eTA fees. You do not need to provide any documents or photographs. The entire application procedure is usually completed within a few minutes.
Please note: always check the information you have entered, as incorrect information may result in an invalid eTA.
Open the application formAfter you have completed the form, your application will be processed. The Canadian immigration service needs an average of three days to process your application. Urgent applications are normally approved within 45 minutes. The system is fully automated, which means that applications are also processed at night, on weekends and on public holidays. However, the system performs random checks, which require manual verification by an immigration officer. This can cause delays in some cases. Urgent applications can also be subject to random checks.
The price of the eTA
The eTA Canada costs £29,95 per person. You can pay using various secure payment methods, such as credit card, PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay. For urgent applies, a surcharge of £17,50 per traveller applies.
Would you like to know more?
If you want to know if you are eligible for an eTA, refer to the page about the general requirements and the one about the passport requirements. You should also keep a close eye on your eTA validity period. The eTA is normally valid for 5 years, unless your passport expires earlier. During this period you may enter Canada multiple times. Your stay may last up to 6 months. If you need further claritification, please check our page with the most frequently asked questions.
