This guide covers UK visa and ETA requirements from Canada in 2026. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt for short visits and need only an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), now £20, rather than a visitor visa. A visa is required only for longer stays — study, work, or joining family. Those routes are popular and highly successful for Canadians, with study and skilled-work grant rates near 99%. This guide explains who needs an ETA, who needs a visa, the fees, and how to apply.
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026. Fees from the Home Office visa fee calculator, 8 April 2026 schedule.
Canadians no longer travel to the UK visa-free without authorisation — an ETA is required for short visits, now £20, and from 25 February 2026 carriers must verify it before boarding. A full visa is needed only for study, work, or family routes, all of which Canadians succeed in at very high rates. Visa fees rose under the 8 April 2026 schedule, and approved applicants now receive a digital eVisa.
UK Visa and ETA Requirements from Canada 2026
For most Canadians, UK travel now means an ETA rather than a visa. Canadian passport holders are visa-exempt visitors, so a short trip for tourism, business, or family needs only the £20 authorisation. A visa is required when the purpose goes beyond a visit — studying for a degree, taking a sponsored job, or settling with a partner. These visa routes are common for Canadians and succeed at some of the highest rates of any nationality.
No, not for short visits. Canadian citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), costing £20 and lasting 2 years, for stays of up to 6 months. A full visa is required only for study, work, or family routes. For example, a Canadian student needs a Student visa ($783), and a Canadian taking a UK job needs a Skilled Worker visa ($1,149).
UK ETA for Canadians 2026
The ETA is a digital pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, applied for through the UK ETA app. Canada was part of the 2025 expansion of the scheme to visa-free Western nationals. Approval is near-automatic — the scheme's overall issue rate is 99.6% — and most decisions arrive within minutes.
From 25 February 2026, Canadians without a valid ETA will not be allowed to board flights to the UK. Airlines must verify ETA status before departure. Apply through the UK ETA app or at gov.uk ahead of travel — most decisions arrive within minutes, but allow up to three working days. The full scheme is explained in our UK ETA guide.
An ETA covers tourism, family visits, business meetings, short courses, and transit, but never paid work or settlement. Canadians whose purpose falls outside the visitor rules — or who have a previous refusal or criminal record — should apply for the appropriate visa instead, as covered below.
UK Visa Fees from Canada 2026
Where a visa is required, fees are charged in US Dollars during the online application. The 8 April 2026 schedule raised most fees. The Immigration Health Surcharge applies separately to work, study, and family visas at £1,035 per year (£776 for students), always in pounds sterling.
| Route | Fee (USD) | Canadian Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (short visits) | £20 | 99.6% issued |
| Student | $783 | 99% |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,149 | 98% |
| Health and Care Worker | $455 | 98% |
| Spouse / Partner | $2,896 | 93% |
| 6-month Visit visa (if required) | $190 | 83% |
| Priority service | $702 | — |
UK Student Visa from Canada 2026
Canadian students need a UK Student visa, costing $783 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year. A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor is required. The Canadian student grant rate is exceptionally high at 99%, with over 4,000 applications a year.
Canada is a strong source of UK university students, and the UK Student visa reflects that with a 99% grant rate. Applicants need a CAS, must meet the English requirement (Canadians are usually exempt as native English speakers, though French-first-language applicants may need a test), and show maintenance funds of £1,483 per month for London or £1,136 elsewhere. Graduates can use the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work.
UK Work Visa from Canada 2026
Canadians taking a UK job need a Skilled Worker visa, costing $1,149 for up to 3 years, or $2,270 for longer. Applicants need a graduate-level job, a £41,700 minimum salary, and a sponsoring employer. The Canadian work grant rate is 98%, with over 5,000 applications a year. Under-35s may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme.
The Skilled Worker visa is the main route, needing a Certificate of Sponsorship and a salary meeting the going rate in the Home Office eligible occupations list. Canada is also a Youth Mobility Scheme country, letting Canadians aged 18–35 live and work in the UK for up to three years without a sponsor.
| Work Route | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,149 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | $2,270 |
| Health and Care Worker | $455 |
| Global Talent (with approval) | $288 |
UK Spouse & Family Visa from Canada 2026
The UK Spouse visa from Canada costs $2,896 and requires the UK sponsor to earn at least £29,000 a year. Processing takes up to 12 weeks, or about 6 weeks with priority service. The Canadian family grant rate is 93%, reflecting strong ties between the two countries.
The UK Spouse visa lets Canadians join a British or settled partner under Appendix FM, leading to settlement after five years. The sponsor must meet the £29,000 income requirement and prove a genuine relationship.
When Canadians Need a UK Visit Visa
Most Canadians never need a visit visa — the ETA covers ordinary tourism and business. A visit visa becomes necessary only in specific cases: a previous UK refusal, a relevant criminal record, or a visit purpose the ETA does not allow. Where one is required, the 6-month visit visa costs $190, with long-term options up to $1,586 for 10 years. Those visiting relatives should understand what a UK host must provide, and anyone previously refused can review our guides to refusal reasons and grant rates by nationality.
How to Apply for a UK Visa or ETA from Canada
Canadians applying for an ETA use the app; those needing a visa apply online at gov.uk and give biometrics or verify identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check app where eligible. The system is the same one used across the Americas, including the United States, which faces the same ETA-or-visa split, and visa-national Colombia. The same ETA-or-visa split applies to other visa-exempt nationals, including Japan and Australia. Begin at gov.uk.
- 1. Short visit: apply for the ETA via the UK ETA app.
- 2. Study, work, or family: complete the online visa application at gov.uk.
- 3. Pay the fee in US Dollars during the application.
- 4. Verify identity via the ID Check app or biometrics where required.
- 5. Upload documents and submit.
- 6. Access your eVisa through your UKVI account once approved.
Standard visa decisions take around 3 weeks, with settlement cases up to 12 weeks; the priority visa service can speed non-settlement decisions. Our guide to processing times after biometrics explains the timelines once identity is verified.
- Canadians need an ETA (£20) for short visits, not a visa.
- The ETA is enforced from 25 February 2026 — no ETA, no boarding.
- Study visa: $783, with a 99% Canadian grant rate.
- Skilled Worker visa: $1,149; 98% grant rate; £41,700 salary.
- Under-35s can use the Youth Mobility Scheme instead.
- Spouse visa: $2,896, requiring £29,000 sponsor income.
- A visit visa is needed only after a refusal or for excluded purposes.
No. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt for short visits and need an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead. The ETA costs £20, lasts 2 years, and allows stays of up to 6 months for tourism, business, or family visits. It is applied for through the UK ETA app, usually with a decision in minutes. A full visa is required only for study, work, or settlement.
The ETA for short visits is £20. For longer stays: the Student visa is $783, the Skilled Worker visa $1,149 for up to 3 years, and the Spouse visa $2,896. Where a visit visa is required, it is $190 for six months. Visa fees are paid in US Dollars, and work, study, and family routes also require the Immigration Health Surcharge in pounds at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students.
Yes. Canadian students need a UK Student visa costing $783 plus the health surcharge of £776 per year, and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a licensed institution. The Canadian student grant rate is exceptionally high at 99%, on over 4,000 applications a year. As native English speakers, most Canadians are exempt from the English language test, though French-first-language applicants may need to take one.
Yes, through several routes. The Skilled Worker visa needs a sponsored graduate-level job paying at least £41,700, costs $1,149, and has a 98% Canadian grant rate. Canadians aged 18 to 35 can also use the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for up to three years without a sponsor. Healthcare professionals use the lower-fee Health and Care Worker route, which is exempt from the health surcharge.
Only in specific situations. The ETA covers ordinary tourism, business, and family visits, so most Canadians never need a visit visa. A visa is required if you have a previous UK refusal, a relevant criminal record, or a visit purpose the ETA does not permit. In those cases the 6-month visit visa costs $190, with long-term options up to $1,586 for 10 years, and the Canadian visit-visa grant rate is 83%.
An ETA is usually decided within minutes, though up to three working days is possible. For visas, standard processing is around 3 weeks for study and work applications, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family visas. The priority service returns a non-settlement decision in about 5 working days where offered. Visa timelines run from identity verification, either biometrics or the ID Check app, not from the online submission.