Breathtaking sunrise view of Peyto Lake and the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, Alberta.
GB flag
GB
CA
CA flag

Photo: Nunzio Guerrera · Pexels

Can a British traveller visit Canada?

Tourism visa requirements · See all destinations for British travellers

Most British travellers don't need a visa, but they do need an electronic travel authorisation before boarding when heading to Canada for tourism.

The route most travellers use is the Canada eTA. Stays go up to 180 days per visit, expect to pay around CA$7 in mandatory fees, processing usually takes 0–3 days.

The paperwork is straightforward — approval is likely if your documents are in order.

Straight from canada.ca.

Visa-free with eTATourism

Canada eTA

Max stay
180days
Processing
0–3days
Fee
CA$7.00≈ $5.13
Apply on official sitecanada.ca
Difficulty9/10·Realism9/10
Why? ▾

Difficulty

Quick paperwork
9/10

Quick to obtain, light documentation, fast turnaround.

Why this score?
  • —Visa-free with eTA — quick online authorisation
  • +0.5Fast processing (under a week)
  • -0.25Onward / return ticket required

Approval realism

Approval is likely
9/10

Most applicants with the right paperwork get approved.

What drives this score?
  • —Approval is near-automatic for visa-free-with-eTA routes
Step-by-step checklist

Your application checklist

  1. 1

    Check your passport validity

    35+ days before

    Most countries require 0+ months of validity beyond your travel dates and at least one blank page. If it's close, renew before applying.

  2. 2

    Gather supporting documents

    19+ days before

    You'll need: Valid passport from an eTA-eligible country; Apply online before booking flight (most approvals within minutes); Linked electronically to your passport — no document to print; Travel for tourism, business, or transit (not work or study).

  3. 3

    Book refundable flight + accommodation

    12+ days before

    Use a refundable booking (or a free hold/itinerary service) until your visa is approved — embassies want to see real plans, but you don't want to lose the money on a refusal.

  4. 4

    On the day of travel

    day of travel

    Carry: passport (printed visa if applicable), onward ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, travel insurance. Border officers retain discretion regardless of visa status.

Show full requirements, fees, and source
0Onward ticket required

What you need

  • Valid passport from an eTA-eligible country
  • Apply online before booking flight (most approvals within minutes)
  • Linked electronically to your passport — no document to print
  • Travel for tourism, business, or transit (not work or study)

Fee breakdown

  • Canada eTA feeCA$7.00≈ $5.13
View primary source (canada.ca) →

What you'll need

Tourism visa for Canada

Specific to British passport holders.

Start ~0–3 weeks before your intended travel date.

Order these first — they have the longest lead time

  • Valid passport

    Identity1–3 weeks

    Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your departure date, with two or more blank pages.

    How: Renew at gov.uk/renew-adult-passport — 3 weeks standard, 1 week premium (£177).

Then gather these

  • Online visa application form

    Application1–3 days

    The destination's online form (DS-160 for US, gov.uk for UK, IRCC portal for Canada, ImmiAccount for Australia, e-Visa portal for most others).

    How: Apply directly on the destination government website — never via a third-party paid service.

  • Onward or return ticket

    Purpose evidence1 day

    Proof you intend to leave the country before your permitted stay expires. Most short-stay visas and visa-free entries require this.

    How: Book a refundable flight or use a 24-hour hold from an OTA. Border officers can check the booking.

  • Application fee payment

    Application1 day

    Payable to the destination government directly. Fees range from ~$25 (e-Visas) to $2,500+ (US EB-1).

    How: Card payment on the destination's portal. Receipt required for the application.

Lead times are global averages. Country-specific channels can be faster (FBI Channeler in days vs FBI Mail in months) — always check the destination's embassy or visa portal for current timelines.

Email me if Canada's policy changes

ONE email when the rules change for British travellers. No account, no marketing.

Other visa types for this route

We also have data on these visa categories between GB and CA.

Business

9/10

Canada eTA

1 option · See details

Transit

9/10

Canada eTA

1 option · See details

Work

4/10

Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker

4 options · See details

Study

1/10

Study Permit — Canada

1 option · See details

Partner / Family

2/10

Family Sponsorship — Spouse or Common-law Partner (Canada)

3 options · See details

Sources & references

Every link below is a primary government source. We aggregate; the source is the authority. If anything on this page disagrees with a link below, the link wins.

Where this page's data came from

Official destination portal

Embassies & consulates

Your country's foreign-affairs ministry

Independent travel advisories

Sponsored

While you're sorting your trip to Canada

We earn a small commission on bookings made via these links — it helps keep the visa tool free. The visa info above is independent of any partner. Our commercial policy →

Travel insurance

Pay-as-you-go cover that works for digital nomads + multi-month trips. Covers medical, evacuation, and trip interruption.

Compare plans →

eSIM data

Pre-paid local data that works on arrival. No SIM swap, no roaming charges.

Browse eSIMs →

Flights

Compare flexible flight options with full price transparency.

Search flights →

Browse other destinations

Where can British passport holders go?

Other passports visiting Canada

Who needs a visa for Canada?

Informational only. A valid visa permits entry subject to officer discretion at the border. Always verify with the destination's embassy or official source before travel, employment, or relocation.