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Canadians traveling to the United Kingdom will now need to apply for and pay for a travel permit (not a visa) before entering the country.
He UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which launched on Wednesday, is required for short-term visits of up to six months for all foreign travelers who do not need a visa to enter the country.
The ETA will be a confirmation sent by email, unlike a visa, which is usually stamped or stuck inside a passport.
The ETA costs approximately $18 and allows travelers to stay in the UK for up to six months at a time.
It can be obtained online and allows for multiple visits over a two-year period.
“ETAs are digitally linked to the traveler’s passport and ensure that stricter security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK, helping to prevent abuse of our immigration system.” states the UK government on its website.
Prior authorization “is in line with the approach that many other countries have taken to border security, including the United States and Australia,” the United Kingdom says.
Canadian passport holders do not need a tourist visa for stays of up to six months in the UK, but do need a business visa or work permit or student visa.
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Canada Travel Advisory for the United Kingdom establishes that Canadians must apply for the ETA before traveling or transiting through the United Kingdom
ETA applications opened to visitors from dozens of countries, including Canada, in November 2024.
The program will further expand to more nationalities in March.
The application process takes around three days, but could also take longer, the UK government says.
The permit is valid for two years or until a person’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
The UK plan is similar to the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), whose launch has been delayed.
When ETIAS launches, Canadian passport holders and other visa-exempt citizens traveling to any of these 30 European countries for up to 90 days you will have to apply for a permit.
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