Planning to Visit the U.K.? Canadians Need New ETA Starting January

Published on November 28, 2025

In 2025, all Canadians wishing to visit or travel through the United Kingdom (UK) will be required to acquire an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) travel document. This new border document requirement is a result of the UK’s continued initiative to create a more secure border, while also improving the ease of border travel for international patrons. The new ETA will impact all visa-exempt passengers, including Canadians, as well as citizens from the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, and several other non-EU nations.

The ETA is intended to improve the efficiency of border control, while also enhancing the level of responsive security to the UK and to help foster an improved tourist industry. Since the UK is a highly sought travel destination for Canadians, the new travel document ETA will most significantly impact these international Canadian travel documents.

What is ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is an online travel document, that permits entry to the UK for visitors from visa-exempt countries. The ETA will be required of all short visit, tourism, and business travelers from Canada and all other visa-exempt countries, who will be traveling to the UK, on or after January 08, 2025.

The United Kingdom government has instituted the new requirement in a bid to have a better close-up look at the flow of international visitors to the United Kingdom. While the ETA is not a visa, it is akin to one in that it permits access to the country for a designated timeframe. The ETA is quick to obtain, is issued electronically, and is connected to the traveler’s passport, with the entire process taking place online.

The ETA, once issued, is valid for 6 months and permits the holder to be in the UK for that entire period, although the actual duration of stay is best dictated by the travel plan. Also, the ETA is not single entry, so travelers do not need to obtain a new ETA for the rest of their trips within the validity period.

The United Kingdom is Also Improving Efficiency and Security.

The UK ETA is an internet-based travel document to improve the efficiency of legitimate international travel to the United Kingdom and improve its border control and security at the same time. While in principle, one hopes that the online application and document issuance will streamline the traveller’s process, it is the UK government’s aim to simplify the traveller’s process in a way that does not compromise the border security.

Given that Canadians form one of the biggest groups of travelers to the U.K, they will be required to plan their trips keeping in mind that they must obtain their ETA before embarking on their travel. Although the procedure is anticipated to be simple, travelers should apply for their ETA as early as possible to account for any potential delays on the ETA processing side.

According to the U.K government, the ETA will be beneficial as it will lessen wait times experienced by travelers at the border. Additionally, the ETA will assist in improving border control for the U.K by managing the volume of travelers in the country.

How will this impact Canadian tourism to the U.K.?

Canadians travel to the U.K in large numbers every year. The tourists love visiting the cities London and Edinburgh, and other cities with historical significance as well as the countryside, and they appreciate the cultural and historical landmarks. Canadians are among the biggest clients of the U.K travel and tourism industry with thousands visiting the country on a yearly basis for leisure activities, business, and educational reasons.

Since travelers want to enter a new country, Canadians wanting to travel will have to plan much earlier, as they will have to apply for the ETA. Even though the ETA is supposed to be electronic and the ETA system is expected to be easy to maneuver, travelers should not wait until the last minute. Even though the ETA should make cross-border travel quicker, travelers have the added delay of waiting for border electronic travel approval for the ETA to arrive before traveling.

This system efficiency promotes improvements in the tourism border system for the travel industry as a whole. More efficiency should encompass information and a well-structured system. Travel agencies, tour operators, and airlines should implement the new border travel system to assist Canadians traveling abroad to travel without difficulty.

What Canadians Need to Know About Applying for the ETA

Completing an application for the UK’s ETA is a straightforward task. Travelers are only required to provide some basic personal information alongside their travel and passport information. Applications are submitted online and most receive an approval notification in a few days. However, to mitigate the risk of complications, travelers should submit their applications a few weeks in advance of their intended travel.

Approved ETAs get electronically linked to the traveler’s passport, meaning travelers do not get sent a physical document. Travelers and Canadians should also ensure that the passport in question is valid for their entire stay in the United Kingdom. Also, the ETA is not a visa, nor is it required if travel is for business. Visiting Canadians that wish to work, study, or stay for more than six months in the United Kingdom are required to acquire a different visa.

ETA Processing for Canadian Tourists

The ETA for Canada is expected to cut wait times for local Canadian travellers flying to the UK. Considering the new travel control mechanisms, the British authorities want to make travel to the UK from Canada more efficient, straightforward, and safe. Considering the new ETA access control approach, Britain is still the most popular travel destination for Canadians.

Culturally, Canadians have a wide variety of Canadian travelers who want to visit the UK. With the historic London and the stunning landscapes of Scotland and Wales, Canadian travelers have a wide variety of choices to explore.

Conclusion

Travellers to the UK are encouraged to review the travel control mechanisms prior to travel to make the travel to the UK smoother. Advanced planning with the ETA and travel objectives of travel to the UK will ensure smoother and hassle-free travel.

As of January 2025, Canadians traveling to the United Kingdom for the first time in 2025 will have to apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for the first time. As the United Kingdom attempts to enhance its border security, the ETA will facilitate efficient travel for visitors. Traveling to the United Kingdom will likely remain a priority for Canadians traveling abroad. With the ETA, Canadians traveling to the United Kingdom will have improved efficiency; their travel documentation will be prepared in advance.