Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit Canada?

UK passport holders need a Canadian eTA (CAD 7) for air travel. Visa-free visits up to 6 months, decided by the border officer. British citizens travelling on an ordinary UK passport are visa-exempt for short visits to Canada and may stay up to 6 months per entry for tourism, business or family visits (the actual length is set by the CBSA officer at the port of entry). However, before boarding any flight to Canada — including a stopover or transit through a Canadian airport — UK passport holders must hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). The eTA costs CAD 7, is applied for online at the official IRCC website, is electronically linked to the passport, and is valid for up to 5 years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first). Most applications are approved within minutes by email, though some can take up to 72 hours if documents are requested. An eTA is NOT required if you arrive by land or sea (car, bus, train, cruise from the US), though you still need acceptable travel documents. For stays over 6 months, paid work, or study, a separate permit or visa is required. Note: from 25 February 2026 the reverse direction changed — Canadians now need a UK ETA — but this does not affect British citizens entering Canada.