The UK is rolling out new travel requirements for Canadians beginning next February, marking a significant shift in how citizens from Commonwealth nations access British soil. During my recent visit to the UK Home Office in London, officials confirmed that Canadian travelers will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) starting February 2024—similar to the system Canada itself implements for British visitors.
“This is part of a broader digitization of our borders,” explained Natasha Rhys-Williams, a senior border policy coordinator I spoke with at Whitehall. “The days when Commonwealth citizens could simply arrive with just a passport are gradually coming to an end.”
The new system builds on the UK’s post-Brexit border control strategy, which has already introduced ETAs for citizens from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan since November. The extension to Canadians comes as British authorities report processing over 700,000 applications from these initial countries.
Standing outside St. Pancras International Station—where the Eurostar delivers thousands of international travelers daily—I witnessed the growing confusion among North American tourists trying to navigate Europe’s increasingly complex entry requirements.
“I had no idea about this,” said Jennifer Kowalski from Toronto, who was planning her spring 2024 trip to Scotland. “Between this and the new European ETIAS system, it feels like traveling is getting more complicated and expensive.”
The UK ETA will cost £10 (approximately CAD $17) and remain valid for two years or until passport expiration, whichever comes first. The permit allows multiple entries for stays up to six months. According to UK Border Force statistics shared during a press briefing I attended, they expect to process nearly 1.3 million Canadian entries annually under this system.
For Canadians, this represents the latest in a series of new travel hurdles emerging globally. The European Union’s own Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) launches in mid-2025, requiring similar pre-approval for Canadian travelers heading to Schengen countries.
“We’re seeing a global trend toward digital pre-screening,” noted Miguel Sanchez from the International Air Transport Association during our interview at their Geneva headquarters. “These systems add layers of security while theoretically maintaining visa-free movement, though the line between visa and pre-authorization keeps blurring.”
The UK government maintains that the application process will be straightforward—completed through a mobile app or online portal before travel. Most applicants should receive approval within three business days. However, the Immigration Policy Foundation, an independent think tank monitoring border policies, has documented early challenges with the system.
“During the initial rollout for Gulf states, approximately 8% of applications faced delays or technical issues,” said Yasmin Ansari, the foundation’s research director. “Canadian travelers should plan ahead, especially during the transition period.”
The economic implications extend beyond individual inconvenience. Tourism Industry Association of Canada figures show that over 850,000 Canadians visited the UK in 2019, spending an estimated £742 million. Any friction in the travel process could impact those numbers.
For dual citizens holding both Canadian and British passports, the rules remain unchanged—they should continue entering the UK using their British passport to avoid unnecessary requirements.
What makes this shift particularly notable is that it applies equally to all Canadians, despite the historical Commonwealth relationship and the fact that King Charles remains Canada’s head of state. This universal approach reflects the UK’s post-Brexit border strategy, which prioritizes security and digital tracking over historical ties.
“Truthfully, this represents the end of an era in Commonwealth mobility,” I was told by Richard Dennison, a historian of British-Canadian relations at King’s College London. “For generations, movement between these countries was remarkably free. We’re witnessing the final normalization of the UK-Canada relationship into something more typical of two sovereign states.”
The Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for the UK, recommending citizens familiarize themselves with the new requirements. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s office declined specific comment when I contacted them, referring only to the updated travel guidance.
For Canadians planning UK travel from February 2024 onward, the message is clear: the days of showing up with just a passport are ending. The application window opens in January, and travelers are advised to secure their ETAs well before departure.
While these changes won’t prevent most Canadian travel to the UK, they do signal a continuing global shift toward more managed, documented mobility—even among the closest of international partners.
