If you plan on travelling to or through England, Scotland, Wales or Norther Ireland, even if it is a brief stop on your trip, you now need to apply and pay for the U.K.’s travel permit called the ETA or Electronic Travel Authorisation.
What is the ETA?
The ETA is part of the UK’s border security measures. It is a more robust security check carried out before you begin your journey there. One of the goals of the ETA is to help the UK safeguard their immigration system. It is like the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and if you plan on travelling to the UK and Europe, you will need both.
The ETA itself is a digital link to your Canadian passport, and it permits you to visit the UK multiple times over a two-year period (except if your passport that it is attached to expires sooner).
You will need an ETA for any short-term visits for a maximum of six months at a time, if you do not already need a visa to enter the UK (for example a business visa or work permit or a student visa).
With an ETA you can:
- Go to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business (like a permitted paid engagement) or short-term study (taking a brief course)
- transit through a UK airport if you will pass through border control – check with your airline if you are not sure.
When you have your ETA, you are not guaranteed entry to the UK; you will still need to go through customs (see a Border Force officer or use an ePassport gate).
How do you apply for an ETA?
You can use an app (iPhone or Android) to apply for your ETA. It takes about 10 minutes to apply, and by using the app your application is quicker, and you get a faster decision (the process usually takes about three days but could take longer).
To apply on the app, you will need to
- download the app using the QR code
- take a photo of yourself – if you’re applying for someone else, they must be with you
- have the passport you will use to travel to the UK
- use a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
It costs £10 to apply or roughly $18CAN.
If you cannot download and use the app, you can go online to apply.
Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for the other people you are travelling with.
You cannot get a refund after you apply.
Here are great travel insurance tips for your UK trip plans
Ready to travel to the UK? Don’t leave home without your travel insurance. Travel insurance can potentially save you thousands of dollars when something goes terribly wrong. Make sure you’ve put insurance in place.
Buy trip cancellation and interruption protection as soon as possible!
You can purchase travel insurance any time before the date of your departure to the UK, but it is best to purchase Trip Cancellation coverage as soon as possible after booking your trip. If you need to cancel your trip before your scheduled departure due to one of the covered risks, trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel arrangements that can’t be recovered from another source.
Trip Interruption travel insurance may be able to help, by reimbursing you for the reasonable cost of alternate transportation between missed connections or getting you home quickly due to an emergency without the worry of additional costs for a new flight.
Put emergency medical travel insurance in place!
Injuries and illnesses can become extremely expensive out of country. If you have a serious health crisis, emergency travel medical insurance provides coverage for transport to the nearest appropriate medical facility, or back to a Canadian hospital.
If you are planning to travel to the UK there are limits on how much your government health insurance plan will pay – and they only pay a small portion of medical expenses incurred abroad. Costs that may not be covered include air and ground ambulance, emergency dental treatment and prescription drug expenses, and fees charged by hospitals or outpatient facilities.
Emergency medical travel insurance includes emergency travel assistance too – an invaluable support if you need it while away from home.
Make sure you have your ETA, your travel insurance and enjoy the UK!
Go online to sbis.ca to learn about how you can choose from multiple travel coverage options in minutes. When you book your trip to the UK, don’t wait – get your travel insurance right away.
Packages are available for Emergency Medical coverage for every member of your family. You can also purchase All-Inclusive insurance coverage for Emergency Medical, Trip Cancellation and Interruption, Baggage Loss, Damage and Delay, and Flight and Travel Accidents. If you require any assistance purchasing your travel insurance, give us a call at SBIS at 416.601.0429 or 1.800.667.0429 toll-free and we can help. Or go online today.
