ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORISATION
Canada
Please follow the advice below for applying for your ETA.
Who Needs An ETA?
Canada holds a visa-exemption policy with many countries, including the UK and Ireland, allowing citizens to visit Canada for up to six months without requiring a visa. As of March 15 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals entering Canada by air will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation.
All travellers must have an ETA to board their flight. Those with a valid Canadian working visa (such as an IEC working holiday visa) do not need to apply for a separate ETA as an ETA is included within the documentation of the visa entry letter.
Applying for an eTA
Immigration, Refugee & Citizenship Canada website (IRCC): You must apply for an eTA on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (CIC).
Before you apply, make sure you have:
- a valid passport from a visa-exempt country
- a credit/debit card to make a payment
- a valid email address
ETA Application Tips & Advice
The purpose of the ETA is to provide Canadian Immigration with information about you. This includes a few simple background questions about your current job, financial information for your visit to Canada, and any medical issues you may have.
- UK passport holders need to select ‘British Citizen’ from the passport list
- If you have previously applied to enter Canada (via a visa programme or work permit) you need to provide your Unique Client Identifier (UCI)
- Be honest and forthcoming with information
- Apply in plenty of time – this is a new system and IRCC have not yet released expected processing times
- Double check everything before you submit
