canada travel to uk

United Kingdom Travel Restrictions

Traveller's COVID-19 vaccination status

Travelling from Canada to the United Kingdom

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Ready to travel?

Find flights to the united kingdom, find stays in the united kingdom, explore more countries on travel restrictions map, destinations you can travel to now, dominican republic, netherlands, philippines, united arab emirates, united kingdom, united states, know when to go.

Sign up for email alerts as countries begin to open - choose the destinations you're interested in so you're in the know.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom from Canada?

Most visitors from Canada, regardless of vaccination status, can enter the United Kingdom.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from Canada can enter the United Kingdom without restrictions.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from Canada can enter the United Kingdom without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter the United Kingdom?

Visitors from Canada are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering the United Kingdom.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom without quarantine?

Travellers from Canada are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in the United Kingdom?

Mask usage in the United Kingdom is not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in the United Kingdom?

Restaurants in the United Kingdom are open. Bars in the United Kingdom are .

• Inspiration
• Destinations
• Places To Stay
• Style & Culture
• Food & Drink
• Wellness & Spas
• News & Advice
• Partnerships
• Traveller's Directory
• Travel Tips
• Competitions

Canada travel restrictions: The rules for travelling from the UK

By Sarah James and Becky Lucas

Since Friday 1 April 2022, fully vaccinated foreign travellers have no longer been required to do pre-entry tests before entering Canada. The rules were then updated for October to reflect the country's relaxed attitude to the pandemic. This is what we know about the rules for travelling to the country for UK tourists.

Are Brits allowed to visit Canada?

The rules changed again as of Saturday 1 October 2022, when the Canadian government relaxed previously enforced covid regulations.

Travellers are no longer required to submit public health information through the ArriveCAN mobile application or website, provide proof of vaccination, undergo any covid tests pre- or post-journey, or carry out covid quarantine stays.

While in the country, as of 1 October, travellers do not need to monitor or report covid symptoms upon arrival, undergo health checks for air and rail travel. The mask requirement for flights and intercity trains has also been lifted. 

As with many other countries, although the last of Canada's covid regulations have been lifted, the government still requests that you do not travel if you have symptoms of the virus. Masks are still recommended for travel, but are not compulsory.

Travellers heading to Canada are now required to present an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter the country. This documentation is required to board flights to the country, unless you have British-Canadian dual nationality and plan on travelling on a Canadian passport.

Can I travel from Canada to the UK now?

Yes, since 18 March 2022, all Covid travel rules have been dropped in the UK. This means that, regardless of vaccination status, those entering the country from Canada no longer need to fill out a passenger locator form, take any tests or quarantine. There are also no countries on any UK red list for travel.  

Canadian travellers to United Kingdom not required to quarantine starting Monday

Denmark, finland, liechtenstein, lithuania, switzerland and the azores also added to green list.

Social Sharing

Canadians travelling to the United Kingdom will not be required to quarantine upon arrival as of Monday, regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The British Department for Transport said Canada and other countries are moving to its "green" list for travel because visitors from those countries pose a low risk to public health in the United Kingdom.

The department said travellers from Canada will still need to take COVID-19 tests within three days before leaving for the U.K. and within another two days after arrival.

The change will take effect Aug. 30.

United Kingdom exempts some countries from travel quarantine — but Canada isn't one of them

How international students heading to Canada are navigating pandemic travel

The United Kingdom has also added Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Switzerland and the Azores to the "green" list.

"The data for all countries will be kept under review and the government will not hesitate to take action should the data show that countries' risk ratings have changed," the department said.

The U.K. High Commission in Ottawa announced the new changes in a post on its Twitter account.

"[Canada] has been added to the U.K.'s green list," the commission said.

"This will make it easier for those looking to reconnect with family, friends and businesses in the U.K."

Thailand and Montenegro added to 'red' list

The United Kingdom is adding Thailand and Montenegro to its "red" list, saying the increased case counts in those countries pose a higher risk to public health.

"Passengers arriving in the U.K. from these red list destinations will need to isolate for 10 days in a managed quarantine facility and follow the necessary testing requirements," the department said.

Many British Canadians were frustrated after being snubbed by the plan to ease quarantine restrictions for entry to England and Scotland last month.

The United Kingdom countries announced on July 28 that travellers who were fully vaccinated in the United States or Europe would not have to quarantine upon arrival.

Canada loosens more travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers

Before the changes that were announced Thursday, travellers from Canada to the U.K . needed to take a COVID-19 test no more than three days before their arrival, book and pay for two other tests after they arrive and quarantine in the place they were staying for 10 days.

British Canadians make up a large segment of the Canada's population. In the 2016 census, 32.5 per cent of the Canadian population reported having some ancestry from the British Isles, with 6.3 million people of English origin, 4.8 million of Scottish origin and 4.6 of Irish origin.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship, which is not involved in the editorial process.

CBC Newsletters

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you.

Main Container

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau

Search form Mobile

• Canada-United Kingdom Joint Statement

Subscribe to email updates

Search form

Main content.

This website is not compatible with Internet Explorer or older version of Microsoft Edge(version 78 and older).

For full functionality please use a supported browser .

The Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt Hon Justin Trudeau MP, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, met in London on 7 March, 2022.  They reaffirmed the strong relationship between Canada and the United Kingdom, rooted in deep historical ties and built on shared values.

Canada and the United Kingdom believe steadfastly in human rights and freedoms, democracy, the rule of law and the rules-based international order.

We stand shoulder to shoulder in supporting Ukraine against Putin’s tyranny and brutal aggression. With the rest of the world, we stand in awe of the valour, courage and tenacity of the Ukrainian people, their military forces, and their public officials. We reiterate our unwavering support to Ukraine in this time of need, and our resolute commitment to upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination.

We have each provided military, economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and more is forthcoming. We will assist those who become refugees, fleeing Putin’s cruel aggression against their country. We are reinforcing NATO as a defensive alliance in the region. We are working together and with countries around the world to ensure the perpetrators and abettors of this illegal invasion face the toughest personal and corporate sanctions ever implemented, trade sanctions, port and airport restrictions, financial penalties, and ultimately the full force of law in the International Criminal Court. Putin and his enablers should have nowhere to hide.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine is illustrative of the growing threat that malevolent actors – both state and non-state – pose to global peace and security, and the freedoms, democratic values, and shared laws that underpin the rules-based international order.  In light of the common challenges facing both our countries, and building on a longstanding tradition of close Canada-UK cooperation on security matters, Canada and the UK will be enhancing our national security collaboration in key areas: countering state threats, emerging technology, and cyber challenges.

We will strengthen our strategic cooperation on economic resilience, continuing our close engagement on critical minerals and investment security, and establishing an overarching Canada-UK initiative on critical supply chains to identify concrete shared action and coordinate approaches to risks and vulnerabilities, drawing on each country’s strengths and experience to deliver solutions.

We will also strengthen our cooperation on disinformation and malign information operations from state actors. We will continue to use the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism for joint assessment and collective action, including ramping up our collective engagement with media, tech platforms and civil society to tackle Russia's unprecedented information war.  We will collaborate in forums like the Media Freedom Coalition and Freedom Online Coalition to call out Russia’s suppression of freedom of speech and independent media, and their false justifications for their barbaric actions.  We will support strategic communication capacity in Ukraine and help to build the admirable resilience of the Ukrainian people to Russian disinformation.

Closer ties between our two countries have never been as important as they are now - to stand up for democracy and build resilient, forward-looking, and green societies.  We will strengthen bilateral cooperation on several critical fronts:

• deeper collaboration with respect to security and intelligence, including through Five Eyes, to better combat current and future threats to democracy and our collective security and economic interests, including from foreign interference, economic coercion, disinformation and cyber attacks;
• build on existing defence relationships, specifically in science and technology collaboration, cold weather operating in the High North, military space capability, Indo Pacific security and green/sustainability initiatives.  The UK’s polar research vessel HMS Protector will visit Canada in the summer. 
• reinforcing strategic cooperation in our world-leading capacity in science, technology and innovation including fields such as AI, quantum, bio-manufacturing, clean energy sources, telecoms, arctic and polar research  and food production;
• negotiating a new, ambitious, progressive free trade agreement between Canada and the UK and working with the UK to successfully complete its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
• affirming that swift and ambitious action on climate change is essential, including the action necessary to reach Net Zero, and helping the world adapt to those consequences of climate change that cannot be avoided, especially cognisant of the impacts of climate change in the Arctic.  This includes joint work to expand global adoption of effective emissions reductions policies, increase international climate finance commitments, support coal phase out, mobilise private finance, promote Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) and reforestation, and support energy transition in third countries.  Carbon pricing is a crucial tool to reduce emissions and drive clean innovation, including through adopting robust domestic carbon pricing policies and engaging international partners to share expertise.
• establish a new Canada-UK Travel Health Dialogue to explore the scope for bilateral cooperation to underpin greater international consistency on border and travel measures, and on how countries use global travel health policies in their responses to further variants and global health challenges.

We are committed to democracy, freedom and human rights. Our countries are both stronger when we work together towards our shared objectives and in support of our shared values. We commit to bringing our united strength to bear against Russian aggression and in support of Ukraine.

Related Product

• Prime Minister concludes successful visit to the United Kingdom

ETA UK visa waiver for Canadian citizens

United kingdom eta requirements from canada.

Citizens of Canada will soon to need to apply for an online visa waiver in order to enter the country. The UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) will allow Canadian travellers to apply online in a matter of minutes, from wherever they are in the world.

The ETA will eventually be mandatory to citizens of all countries who are currently visa-exempt, including nationals of Canada. The programme allows the UK government to ensure faster border controls and increase the security for UK nationals and visitors alike.

Below, you can learn about when you need an ETA for the UK as a Canadian citizen, the requirements you need to meet, and how you can easily submit an application through Etauk.uk.

Do Canadians need a visa to travel to the UK?

Canadians are currently exempt from applying for a visa if they are visiting the UK for short-term stays.

However, once citizens of Canada become eligible, they will need to apply for the UK ETA . It is important to note that the ETA is not a visa, it is a visa waiver, and it allows visitors to spend a maximum of 6 months in the country, for approved travel purposes.

This authorisation is also a multiple-entry permit. This means you can use it to enter the UK multiple times during the 2-year validity of the ETA, or until the associated passport expires.

The ETA does not cover trips for work or study longer than 6 months , or any trip that requires a longer stay. For such reasons, Canadian travellers may need to contact the closest British embassy and request a visa .

UK ETA approved travel reasons for Canadian visitors

The approved travel reasons for Canadians visiting the UK with an ETA are the following:

• Tourism/leisure
• Visits to family or friends
• Short-term study
• Transit (including if not crossing UK border)

Additionally, Canadians with an ETA can come to the UK on the Creative Worker visa concession . However, in this case the maximum stay is 3 months.

What are the conditions for applying for the UK ETA from Canada?

The conditions for obtaining the UK ETA from Canada are as follows:

• Possessing a valid Canadian passport
• Having an active email address (important to receive the ETA)
• Possessing a credit or debit card to pay for the ETA processing fee

UK ETA application process for citizens of Canada

The UK ETA application process for citizens of Canada is extremely fast and straightforward. Applicants will need to follow three simple steps:

• Complete the ETA application form online
• Pay for the ETA fee
• Submit the application

The entire process takes no longer than 10 minutes to complete. What’s more, if you apply with us though Etauk.uk our team of experts are available to help you with any doubts through our live application chat.

After sending the application for review, you can expect to receive a confirmation via email within 72 hours .

Delays may happen if any mistakes are detected in the application form. To avoid this or even a denial of the ETA, ensure that all the information provided is mistake-free .

UK ETA application form for Canadian citizens

The UK ETA application form for Canadians contains different sections. Each part must be filled in entirely, ensuring every detail is correct. The form requires you to provide the following details:

• Personal details such as the applicant’s full name, date of birth, and country of citizenship
• Passport details , including the number, issuing country, date of issue and expiration
• Contact details , including the applicant’s home address, email address, and phone number
• The intended date of entry in the UK

Canadian travellers who possess more than one passport must use the same one for the online application to enter the United Kingdom. At border control, you need to scan your passport. The system will check the passport details match the ones in the ETA .

What are the benefits of the UK ETA for Canadians?

The main benefits of the ETA for Canadians and all international visitors are:

• Increased safety for international travellers due to more accurate border controls
• An automated system that makes border controls faster
• An entirely digital application process that takes only a few minutes
• Fast processing, which means that travellers do not need to apply long before their trip

Travelling from Canada to the UK

With the UK ETA, Canadian travellers may enter the country via land, sea, and air . The fastest way of reaching the United Kingdom from Canada is via one of the many direct flights available to cities like London or Manchester.

British Embassy in Canada

The UK has several diplomatic missions in Canada. The British High Commission is the main one, located in Ottawa at the following address: 80 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5K7

Additionally, the UK has eight consulates in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, St. John’s NL, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg .

Language selection

• Français fr

How to apply

Additional changes to entry, testing and quarantine requirements in response to the Omicron variant

There are temporary changes for all travellers, including Canadian citizens, regardless of their vaccination status.

Additional restrictions and requirements now apply to these countries:

• Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe

News release

Changes to border measures

New border measures include

• rules for re-entering Canada, if leaving for 72 hours or less
• who is considered fully vaccinated
• rules for travelling within Canada

Starting January 15, 2022, there will be new rules for who can enter Canada as an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated traveller.

Learn more about the new measures

Venezuelan passport holders

You may need to complete extra steps when you fill out your application .

If the printed expiry date on your Venezuelan passport has passed

If the printed expiry date has passed and you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or to extend your stay as a temporary resident in Canada, follow these steps:

• Add 5 years to the printed expiry date shown on your passport and enter it in the expiry date field of the application form.
• Include a letter of explanation with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for 5 years”.

Warning: If your passport is still expired after adding 5 years to the printed expiry date, your passport is considered expired. You’re not eligible to submit an application with that passport.

Prepare documents and apply

The reason you’re traveling to Canada determines the way you apply and the documents you need to submit with your visa application.

Why are you applying for a visitor visa?

• To visit as a tourist
• To visit for business
• To visit your spouse or partner who has sponsored you for permanent residence

What is your family member’s status in Canada?

• Canadian citizen
• Person registered under Canada’s Indian Act
• Canadian permanent resident
• Temporary resident in Canada
• For compassionate reasons
• None of the above

Do you plan to visit your children or grandchildren for more than 6 months?

You may be eligible to apply for a Super Visa

A super visa lets you visit your children or grandchildren for 5 years at a time. It’s a visa that provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years.

Find out how to apply for a Super Visa

Step 1 Gather documents

Gather these documents to submit with your visa application and bring when you travel.

About the documents listed

• Not all documents listed below are required—some are optional.
• This is not an exhaustive list of acceptable proof to support your visa application.
• Only submit the recommended documents that prove you’re eligible for a visa.
• Even if you submit all the documents listed, there is no guarantee that we’ll approve your application.
• We may request more information from you in addition to what is listed here.

Documents we accept:

• passports (regular, official or diplomatic)  from most countries (see exceptions below)
• alien’s passport for stateless persons
• US Permit to Re-Enter (Form I-327)
• US Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571)
• other refugee travel documents for non-citizens

Documents we don’t accept:

• any passport issued by Somalia
• non-machine-readable passports issued by the Czech Republic
• temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa
• provisional passports issued by Venezuela

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you’ll use to travel to Canada

If you have a passport, you must provide a copy of

• the page that shows your birth date and country of origin
• any pages with stamps, visas or markings

If you have a travel document, it must be issued by a government and include your

• date of birth
• document number
• citizenship or residency status
• expiry date (if applicable)

Submit this document with your visa application.

Family members or third parties who apply on behalf of the applicant need to complete this form.

Submit the completed form with your visa application.

Each applicant 18 years or older must complete this form.

Submit the completed form with your visa application

Documents needed depend on whether a child under 18 years of age will travel with only 1 parent, with a relative or friend or alone.

You may need to show

• a letter that authorizes the minor child to travel to Canada
• other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on if the minor child travels alone or not

Consult Minor children travelling to Canada .

Submit these with your visa application.

• Show the border services officer when you arrive in Canada.

If you’ve travelled to Canada or to other countries, this can show that you’ve been able to get a visa in the past.

Proof of this includes copies of previous visas in your passport.

Include a clear copy of 1 or more of the following:

• your previous passports and/or visas (used within the last 10 years to travel outside your country)
• entry and exit stamps
• study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside of your country
• expired or valid visas

Submit this document with your visa application

Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do in Canada

Include copies of any of the following:

• flight details
• hotel reservations
• registration for an event

This can help us understand if you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Canada.

Bank name and contact This allows us to contact your bank or financial institution with questions.

Proof it is your account Your name and address on the statement show that the account is yours.

Account details At least 6 months of account details, including balances, helps us understand your financial situation.

Use this form if you want to allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to release your personal information to someone you choose.

The person you choose will be able to get information on your case file, such as the status of your application.

Business visitor

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you'll use to travel to Canada

Submit this with your visa application.

A clear copy of 1 or more of the following:

• study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside your country

Copies of any of the following:

A letter from your employer can confirm that you have a stable job and will return to it. It can also show that your employer supports your visit to Canada.

The letter should be printed on your employer’s official letterhead.

The letter should include the following:

• date, no earlier than 3 months before you apply
• confirmation that you have a job with the employer
• your full name and date of birth
• date you started the job
• brief description of your job
• current salary
• contact information of your manager
• phone number
• email address
• employer information
• company name
• state or province
• Your manager or human resources contact should print their name and sign the letter.

A letter from a business or company in Canada

It can confirm that your purpose for visiting Canada is valid.

A copy of the letter from the business or company inviting you to Canada

• The letter must be written to you from the business or company.

Consult the details to include in the letter .

Visit your spouse or partner who sponsored you for permanent residence

Proof of your relationship with the person or family member inviting you to Canada

This can include a copy of

• a marriage certificate
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM5409)
• a birth certificate
• an official document naming you as a parent

Each applicant 18 years and older must complete this form.

The documents needed depend on whether a child under 18 years of age will travel with only 1 parent, with a relative or friend, or alone.

• other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on whether the minor child travels alone

Consult Minor children travelling to Canada

A letter written by your family member in Canada

A copy of the letter from the family member inviting you to Canada

• The letter must be written to you from your family member.
• current Salary

Complete the form that declares you and your partner are in a common-law relationship. Also provide proof that you and your common-law partner have combined your affairs and set up a household together.

What is a common-law partner?

Proof can include

• joint bank accounts or credit cards
• joint ownership of a home
• joint residential leases
• joint rental receipts
• joint utilities (electricity, gas, telephone)
• joint management of household expenses
• proof of joint purchases, especially for household items
• mail addressed to either person or both people at the same address

Faster visitor visa processing for spousal applicants

If you’re being sponsored for permanent residence (PR) by your spouse or partner, you could benefit from faster processing for a visitor visa.

You may be eligible if you

• submitted an application to be sponsored for permanent residence
• received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) that confirms the application is in progress

Applications that need more information, for example custody documents for a child, will take longer to process.

When your sponsor receives the AOR for your permanent residence application, you can apply for a visitor visa. If you’re eligible, your visitor visa application will automatically receive faster processing. You don’t need to request it.

You must still meet all of the requirements to be eligible for a visitor visa .

Visit family (Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act, or permanent resident of Canada)

Submit with visa application

Visit children or grandchildren Super visa option

Submit this with your visa or super visa application.

For super visa applicants only

Proof that medical insurance for at least $100,000 coverage has been purchased from a Canadian insurance company.

A copy of the insurance certificate or policy you received for medical insurance coverage for 1 year with a Canadian insurance company.

Submit this with your super visa application.

Documents that show that the super visa applicant’s child or grandchild meets the low income cut-off minimum.

Submit one of the following documents:

• If the child or grandchild does not have a paper copy of their notice of assessment on file, they can view and print their tax returns as well as other personal tax information using the Canada Revenue Agency My Account online service.
• a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s most recent T4 or T1
• an original letter from the child’s or grandchild’s employer stating their job title, job description and salary
• a letter from an accountant confirming the child’s or grandchild’s annual income, if they are self-employed.
• proof of other sources of income (pension statement, investments, etc.)

A document confirming that you had an  immigration medical exam (IME)

The exam must conducted by a panel physician authorized by IRCC.

Get complete details about how to get a medical exam with a panel physician.

Submit this with your super visa application, or wait for instructions from the visa office.

Visit family (temporary resident of Canada)

A letter written by your family in Canada

Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do once in Canada

Visit for compassionate reasons

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you'll use to travel to Canada.

• Show the border services officer when you arrive in Canada

A letter written to you from a person or business inviting you to Canada

A copy of the letter from the person or business inviting you to Canada

• registration for an event.

Step 2 Apply through the IRCC Portal

Step 2 apply.

To apply for a visitor visa to visit Canada on business, you need to qualify as a business visitor.

To qualify, you must show that:

• you plan to stay for less than 6 months
• you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market
• your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada

Business visitor activities include business meetings, special events or training for a few days or weeks.

If your meeting, event or conference is registered with us, include the event code in your application. You should get this code from the organizer.

Note: If you plan to stay for more than 6 months, or if you plan to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to  apply for a work permit .

To apply online, you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and a valid credit or debit card.

Read the instruction guide before you complete your application. As an online applicant, you can ignore steps 3 and 4 of the guide (paying the fees and submitting your application).

If you’re applying for the first time , you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise, you may experience delays.

Apply through the IRCC Secure account

Sign in to your IRCC secure account

Apply through the IRCC Portal

Only for tourists, visiting for business, family visits, compassionate reasons

Sign in to the IRCC portal

Applying on paper for specific situations

If you need a visitor visa to travel to Canada, you must apply online for one. Only online applications will be accepted and processed. However, you can apply on paper if:

• you can’t apply online because of a disability or
• you’re travelling with an identity or travel document that was issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen

The application package includes an instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out.

Read the guide carefully before you complete your application . We will not refund your application fee, so make sure you need a visitor visa before you apply.

Each individual applicant must submit a completed application form. Applicants under the age of 18 must have this form signed by a parent or a guardian.

Download the application package .

Pay your application fees

In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application.

If you’re applying for the first time, you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise, you may experience delays.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for

• your medical exam
• a police certificate

Our instruction guides (opens in a new tab) can help you understand which fees apply to you.

Submit your application

Families should send their individual applications in one package. The principal applicant must send this combined package to the location where their application will be processed.

Select the country/territory you’ll be applying from to find out where to submit your application. You can choose your country of nationality or the country or territory where you have been legally admitted:

• Afghanistan
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Burkina Faso
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• China (People’s Republic of)
• Comoros Island
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Czech Republic
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Hong Kong SAR
• Liechtenstein
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia (Federated States of)
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• North Korea
• North Macedonia (Republic of)
• Palestinian Authority (Gaza)
• Palestinian Authority (West Bank)
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Switzerland
• Timor-Leste (Timor oriental)
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• US Virgin Islands

If you need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), and you’re applying on paper, submit your application in person . VAC staff will check that it is complete and will confirm that you have paid the correct fees before you can give your biometrics.

Credit cards and prepaid cards

We accept the following credit cards and prepaid cards:

• MasterCard ®
• American Express ®
• UnionPay ® (for online applications only; debit cards not accepted)

If you use a prepaid credit card, keep it for at least 18 months after you pay to make refunds easier. Find more on prepaid cards .

We also accept all Visa Debit cards.

The card you use doesn’t have to be in your name. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt but it does not need to match your application.

Debit cards

• be from a Canadian bank using INTERAC ® Online
• be registered for online banking through your bank’s website

We also accept all Debit MasterCard ® and Visa ® Debit cards. If your card has the Visa Debit logo on it, alone or with the INTERAC ® Online logo, select Visa Debit as your payment method.

Page details

UK Visitors to Canada 

Each year, approximately 20 million people visit canada. they come from all over the world to enjoy the culture, festivals, food and so much more. though many visitors are mere tourists, there are some who are students or temporary workers. .

Is a Visa required? 

If you are a UK citizen arriving in arriving in Canada with a valid passport, you do not need a visa to enter the country. Although politically independent, Canada is part of the Commonwealth of Nations (a group of countries that were former British colonies) and its residents fall under the British monarchy. Consequently, all citizens of British dependent territories who obtain their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization do not require a visa when they come to Canada. 

Note: all UK visitors do require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if arriving by plane (an eTA is not necessary if arriving by land or sea). 

Study and Work Permits  

Those pursuing a course of study lasting more than six months at an accredited Canadian institution will need to first obtain a study permit. Study permits are typically valid for the entire term of the study program, plus an additional 90 days. Those who plan to work in Canada on a temporary basis will need to first obtain a valid work permit prior to their arrival. A biometrics profile (photo and fingerprints) must be submitted when applying for either permit. 

Notable Differences Between the UK and Canada 

It is understandable that many tourists visiting Canada are from the UK, since the two countries share many similarities. Nonetheless, a few differences do exist and are worthy of mention. 

Driving 

A notable difference between the UK and Canada is the driving. Vehicles are driven on the right side of the road in Canada and drivers sit on the left-hand side of the vehicle, which is the complete opposite of the British system for driving. Fortunately though, both the brake and accelerator pedals are in the same place and position. Also, most cars in Canada (including rental cars) are equipped with an automatic transmission; a feature that is not so commonplace in vehicles from the United Kingdome. 

If you are moving from England to Canada, you need to be aware that each province has its own driving license regulations. However, most provinces and territories allow you to simply exchange your UK license for a valid Canadian license without having to complete a road test. You will need to prove you have at least 24 months of licensed driving experience though, and in some cases, a vision test will also be required. 

Time Zones  

Canada is an expansive country with several time zones, while England has but one time zone covering the entire country (Greenwich Mean Time). As a guideline for people from the UK visiting Canada, the table below shows the time difference between the various regions of the country and England:

UK Residents Visiting Relatives in Canada  

Currently, visitors from the UK do not require an entry visa for stays of six months or less. However, UK parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to benefit from the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa provisions. UK citizens who wish to visit Canada for up to two years without having to renew their authorized stay should consider applying for an extended authorized stay by proving that the requirements for the Super Visa are met. For more information, see the Super Visa .

© VisitorsToCanada.com | Privacy Policy

U.K. says terror attack ‘very likely’ to strike Canada as Ottawa labels threat ‘medium’

New U.K. travel advisory was issued this month while Canadian level hasn't changed since 2014

You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.

Article content

The U.K. and Canadian governments are currently showing very different levels of terror threat assessments for Canada.

U.K. says terror attack ‘very likely’ to strike Canada as Ottawa labels threat ‘medium’ Back to video

On the British government’s travel advisory page for Canada , an update  from Nov. 3 reads: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting U.K. interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the U.K. and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.”

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

• Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay, Rex Murphy and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
• Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
• National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
• Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Don't have an account? Create Account

This is followed by a boldface warning: “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Canada.”

It adds: “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. You should remain aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.” It then lists recent attacks, including a stabbing this year in Surrey, B.C., and the 2021 van attack that killed four members of the same family in London, Ont.

The website includes a link to the government of Canada’s web page for national terrorism threat levels. But that page indicates that the current level is medium, defined as “a violent act of terrorism could occur.”

“Medium” is the middle of five levels. The next highest, “high,” says that a violent act of terrorism “is likely,” while the highest level, “critical,” warns that an act “is highly likely and could occur imminently.” The British warning of “very likely” attacks would seem to fall between these two highest levels.

The Canadian website notes that the terror threat has been at “medium” continuously for almost 10 years, since October of 2014.

The issue was raised Wednesday during Question Period in the House of Commons, when opposition leader Pierre Poilievre asked the Prime Minister if he agreed with the U.K. foreign office’s assessment.

“We are continuing to make sure that we are doing everything we possibly can to keep Canadians safe,” Justin Trudeau answered. “We understand that these are trying times around the world right now, but the best thing we can do as Canadians is stay true to our values, be respectful of one another, feel each other’s pain, and be there to support others through these very difficult times of a rise in hatred, including Islamophobia and antisemitism.”

Poilievre then pushed the point, noting that “terrorists are not interested in feeling other people’s pain; they are interested in causing other people pain,” and asking Trudeau to explain the difference in threat level assessments.

“I cannot speak to how other countries make their determinations on travel advisories,” the Prime Minister answered, “but I can say that the work is done daily in Canada to assess the threat level to Canadians and what can be communicated to keep them safe. We elevated the threat level to medium in 2014, and it has remained at that level since. Every single day, we re-evaluate and ensure that we are doing everything we can, privately and publicly, to keep Canadians safe.”

He added: “We have top security agencies and officials who work daily to reassess the threat levels to Canadians. They are working every single day to keep Canadians safe, and they will continue to keep Canadians informed on the best ways to keep safe.”

In a statement to the National Post, a spokesman for the British High Commission in Canada said he could not elaborate on the change in threat level. “T he FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) constantly reviews the threat to British nationals from international terrorism using all of the resources and information available,” he said. “We cannot disclose details of our threat assessments.”

He added: “ In regards to Canada,  it’s not for the U.K. government to comment upon the Canadian government’s assessment of the threat from terrorism.”

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here .

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Chris Selley: Canada's Supreme Court justices gone wild

Np view: loblaw is a true canadian success story — no wonder trudeau wants to destroy it, planning a summer trip to quebec’s iles-de-la-madeleine you’ll have to pay up., four-litre jug of vodka not enough the 19-litre 'saskatchewan mickey' may be for you, conrad black: washing away the climate lunatics, badgley mischka founders bring celebrity-approved designs to vancouver.

Fashion brand Badgley Mischka has been worn by Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Helen Mirren and many more.

Phil Rosenthal of Netflix's "Somebody Feed Phil" on his love of travel, food, discovering the unknown

Plus his can't-live-without travel essentials

Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Walmart makes patio furniture from recycled materials

Stylish and affordable sets for your outdoor space

Breathe easy with our favourite air purifiers

A reliable air purifier can effectively remove airborne particles and improve air quality

The best online deals in the Canadian retail space right now

Good American, Brooklinen and Our Place, to name a few

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

You've reached the 20 article limit.

You can manage saved articles in your account.

and save up to 100 articles!

Looks like you've reached your saved article limit!

You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.

Simple Flying

History: why did the uk's plan to unite canada & australia with airships fail.

The airship Imperial Airship Scheme would have connected the corners of the British Empire, but was met with disaster.

• The Imperial Airship Scheme aimed to connect Britain with its empire but ended in disaster with the R101 crash claiming 48 lives.
• The R100 made a successful Atlantic crossing but the R101 crash halted the scheme, leading to the termination of airship development.
• Despite the tragic end of the Imperial Airship Scheme, airship technology continues to evolve with a focus on large cargo-carrying airships.

By some measures, the British Empire was the largest empire in human history. This, naturally, came with a suite of logistical challenges. Britain's reach spanned every continent in both hemispheres, and uniting these far-flung lands was always a priority.

For a while, it looked like airships could help bridge the empire, and so the ambitious Imperial Airship Scheme was created. But the Imperial Airship Scheme came to be remembered as an example of when innovation was pushed too far, too fast. The plan was a novel one, but like other grand airship schemes, it was terminated after one of the most catastrophic airship disasters in history .

The Imperial Airship Scheme

"Following the successes of the R33 and her sister ship the R34, further investment in airships was provided and saw the creation of the R36, R38 and the R80. Airships were now proving themselves as technically advanced aircraft surpassing the aeroplane." - Airshipsonline.com

The 1920s were the heyday of airships. At this time, airships looked to be the future of long-distance commercial flights. Pan Am's famous flying boats - the B-314 Clippers - were still years in the offering, and Zeppelins and other airships were all the rage. In an effort to improve communication between Britain and its empire, London sought to establish air routes using airships. The first phase involved the construction of two massive and technically advanced airships, the R100 (called "Capitalist") and the R101 (called "Socialist").

The suggestion for the idea dates from 1921. Lighter-than-air aircraft (airships) were selected because they were seen as more practical than heavier-than-air aircraft (airplanes). Airplanes could only carry a limited number of passengers a short distance only in daylight unlike airships. In 1924, the British embarked on the Imperial Airship Scheme, which called for the construction of two prototype airships on which to build a larger network of airships.

While the British built and experimented with their first two airships, testing and planning for the new design of a class of airships was already underway. The British planned to refurbish existing R33 and R36 airships with the R36 to head to Egypt for testing in warmer climates. The next-generation airships (R102, R103, and R104) would have been able to carry up to 150 passengers. Their size would have been comparable to the later ill-fated LZ129 Hindenburg .

Graf Zeppelin: 5 Things You Didn't Know About The World's Most Successful Rigid Airship

Capabilities of the r100 and r101.

R100 was built by a Vickers subsidiary using existing technology/ R101 was built by state-owned Royal Airship Works using new, innovative techniques in airship design. The R101 had two-berth cabins, a lounge, dining rooms, a smoking room, and promenade decks (airships were a luxury experience for the elite). Like Germany, Britain was unable to obtain enough helium, so it used flammable hydrogen.

They were originally planned to be built with a capacity of 100 passengers and fly for 57 hours at a cruising speed of 63 mph. Both airships ended up overweight and delayed, but they were eventually built, albeit with a reduced passenger capacity of 50. They were intended to carry out trial flights to Canada and India, and according to the UK Parliament , they were " the precursor to the establishment of regular airship services across the British Empire ." If the plan had been realized, it would have connected Great Britain with Australia, Canada, South Africa, and India using six airships in commercial service along an imperial air route.

One By One: A Brief History Of The US Navy's 5 Airships

The short career of the r100 & r101.

" The R101 Airship story is one of political leadership spurring investment in new technology, but at the same time driving that new technology to a premature implementation and subsequent disaster. " - NASA

The R100 initially enjoyed success. It first flew on 16 December 1929, and then, in 1930, it made an Atlantic crossing to Canada, taking 78 hours. It became the first to cross the Atlantic in an east-west direction. But disaster befell the scheme in 1931, when the second airship, the R101, crashed over France on its maiden flight to India. The R101 crash was one of the worst airship accidents in history (worse than the later Hindenburg by number of fatalities). It claimed 48 lives of the 54 on board, including Lord Thomson, who had initiated the Imperial Airship Scheme.

the news of the R101's crash was disastrous. In response, the Imperial Airship Scheme was terminated and the R100 was scrapped. The British mostly ceased airship development but the Germans would press on building the famous Zeppelins until the dramatic Hindenburg disaster of 1937 ended German airship plans as well. While the Hindenburg disaster was mostly the end for passenger airships, it was not the end of airships as such. Today, the world is experiencing a back-to-future moment with many large cargo-carrying airships in development .

What do you think of the plans to link Britain by airship to the rest of the British Empire? Share your thoughts by commenting below.

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Visas and immigration
• What you need to do

How to apply for a visa to come to the UK

Choose a visa.

You may need a visa to come to the UK to study, work, visit or join family.

There are different visas depending on:

• where you come from
• why you want to come to the UK
• how long you want to stay for
• your personal circumstances and skills

Before you apply, you must check if you need a visa and what type you need. Depending on your nationality, you might not need a visa to visit or transit through the UK.

Your application must be approved before you travel.

You do not need to apply for a visa if you’re an Irish citizen.

If you want to visit the UK

Apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months. For example:

• for a holiday or to see family and friends
• for a business trip or meeting
• to do a short course of study

You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK to get married or register a civil partnership.

If you have a visitor visa you cannot take a job in the UK.

If you’re travelling through the UK

You might need a visa if you’re travelling through the UK on your way to another country, for example if you have a layover between flights.

Apply for a visa to travel through the UK .

If you want to study in the UK

Your course length, type and place of study affect which visa to apply for.

A Standard Visitor visa lets you do a short course of study that lasts no longer than 6 months.

A Short-term study visa lets you come to the UK to study an English language course that is over 6 months and up to 11 months.

A Student visa is usually for a longer course. You must be sponsored by a licensed college or university and have a confirmed place. On this visa, you may be able to do some work.

A Child Student visa is for 4 to 17 year olds who want to study at an independent school. If you’re 16 or over, this visa lets you do some work.

If you want to work in the UK

You can work in the UK on a short or long-term basis with a work visa. There are many types of work visa .

The visa you need depends upon:

• your skills and qualifications
• if you have a job offer and sponsorship
• if you want to bring your family with you
• what you’ll be doing - for example sporting, charitable or religious work

You can set up a business with an Innovator Founder visa .

If you want to join family in the UK

If you’re a spouse, partner or family member of someone who has British citizenship or settlement in the UK, you can apply for a family visa to join them. They may need to show that they can support you financially.

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain ( ILR ) after a set amount of time living in the UK.

If your family member is in the UK on a visa

You may be able to apply for a visa to join a family member who’s in the UK on a visa. They must be either:

• your spouse or partner
• your parent if you’re 18 or under

Check what visa you’ll need to join them.

Family reunion visas for refugees

If you were separated from your partner or child when you were forced to leave your country, they can apply to join you in the UK.

Your family members can apply if you have been given asylum or 5 years’ humanitarian protection, and not have British citizenship.

If your family member is from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You can apply for a free EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK if you have a close family member who:

• was living in the UK by 31 December 2020
• has pre-settled or settled status
• you had a relationship with by 31 December 2020 (unless you’re applying for a child who was born or adopted after this date)

Close family members include your spouse or civil partner, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent.

A family permit lets you live, work and study in the UK for up to 6 months. You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to stay in the UK after your family permit expires. You usually need to apply within 3 months of arriving in the UK.

Other ways to get permission to live in the UK

If you’re from the eu, switzerland, norway, iceland or liechtenstein.

If you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme instead of applying for a visa. The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021, but you can still apply if you can show reasonable grounds for the delay in applying.

Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme .

You can only apply from outside the UK if you have a valid passport or national identity card with a biometric chip.

Commonwealth citizens

You can apply for an Ancestry visa to work in the UK if you have a British grandparent and meet other eligibility criteria.

You may have right of abode to live in the UK.

If you’re a Commonwealth citizen and cannot prove your right to be in the UK, read about the Windrush scheme .

Returning residents

You’ll need to apply for a returning resident visa to come back to the UK if one of the following is true:

you had indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme (‘settled status’) and left the UK for more than 5 continuous years (or 4 continuous years if you’re a Swiss citizen or their family member)

you had permanent permission to stay in the UK (‘indefinite leave to remain’) but it was not under the EU Settlement Scheme and you left the UK for more than 2 years

Other visas

There may be another visa that’s right for you based on your circumstances. Check if you need a visa and what other visas you’re eligible for.

Related content

Is this page useful.

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.