UK to Canada: eTA Requirements, Best Flights & Money Guide 2026

Visa requirements

Flights from United Kingdom to Canada

Money, cards & forex fees

ATMs in Canada

Top cities in Canada

Canadian eTA for UK Passport Holders: 5-Minute Application

British passport holders are visa-exempt for Canada but must obtain an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before flying. The eTA is applied for online at canada.ca/eta and costs CA$7 (approximately £4). The application takes under 5 minutes: you need your passport number, a credit or debit card for the fee, and an email address. The vast majority of applications are approved instantly by an automated system — you receive the approval email within minutes. The eTA is digitally linked to your passport's chip, so you don't need to print anything. It's valid for 5 years or until your passport expiry date, whichever is earlier, making it a one-time hassle for regular Canada visitors. If you get a new passport, you'll need a new eTA (CA$7 again). Crucially: the eTA is only required when entering Canada by air. If you're driving across the US-Canada border or arriving by ferry, no eTA is needed — just your UK passport. This is a common source of confusion for British road-trippers entering via Niagara Falls or Vancouver Island ferries. For working holidays: UK citizens aged 18-35 can apply for International Experience Canada (IEC) working holiday authorization, allowing them to live and work in Canada for up to 2 years. This is a separate, more involved application through IRCC.

Flights from London to Canada: LHR and Beyond

London Heathrow (LHR) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is one of the most competitive long-haul routes in the world, with four carriers — Air Canada, British Airways, WestJet, and Virgin Atlantic — operating non-stop daily or near-daily services. Flight time is approximately 8 hours westbound and 7 hours on the return. Competition keeps fares reasonable: economy returns can be found for £400-550 in non-peak periods, though July-August sees prices climb sharply. For Vancouver (YVR), Air Canada, British Airways, and WestJet all operate direct LHR-YVR services. The 9-hour non-stop to Vancouver is particularly popular with travelers continuing to Whistler or planning a Canadian Rockies road trip. Alternatively, you can fly LHR to Calgary (YYC) directly with WestJet — this positions you closer to Banff and the Rockies. For Montreal (YUL), Air Canada, British Airways, and Air Transat all serve the LHR-YUL route. Montreal is a particularly rewarding destination for British travelers: the francophone culture, European architecture, and world-class gastronomy feel distinct from anything in the US. French is the working language of Quebec, though Montrealers generally speak excellent English. Booking tip: fares on the LHR-YYZ and LHR-YVR routes tend to bottom out 8-12 weeks before departure for economy. BA Avios and Air Canada Aeroplan are the most useful loyalty programs for British travelers — both have transferable partnership schemes worth exploring.

GBP to CAD: Why UK Fintech Cards Are Perfect for Canada

Traditional UK banks — Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds — typically charge 2.75-2.99% foreign transaction fees on international card payments, plus a flat fee of £1-2 per ATM withdrawal abroad. On a 10-day Canadian trip spending CA$250/day, this amounts to approximately £40-60 in unnecessary fees. The UK is extraordinarily well-served by zero-fee travel banking. Starling Bank's personal account has no monthly fees and charges zero foreign transaction fees on all international spending — it converts at the Mastercard mid-market rate automatically. The free ATM allowance for international withdrawals at Starling is CA$500/month, which is typically sufficient for most Canadian trips given how cashless the country is. Monzo's free tier also offers zero forex fees and free international ATM withdrawals up to £200/month (roughly CA$345). Chase UK — the newer entrant — offers zero forex fees and even pays 1% cashback on all spending including international, making it particularly rewarding for Canadian spending. Canada's ATM network charges CA$3-5 per withdrawal at bank ATMs (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO). With Starling, this fee is rebated. With Monzo or Chase, you absorb this cost once you exceed the monthly free ATM allowance. Practical advice: withdraw CA$200-300 at once at a bank ATM rather than multiple small withdrawals, as the surcharge is per-transaction. Keep some cash for farmers markets, street food, and parking meters.

On-arrival tips

• 1eTA (or visa) must be approved before flying — airlines verify during check-in
• 2Canada uses CBSA kiosks for self-service declaration — have your passport and customs declaration ready
• 3GST/HST (sales tax 5-15% depending on province) is added at the till — prices displayed exclude tax
• 4Canadian winters are severe: Toronto can reach -25°C in January, Montreal -30°C — pack accordingly Nov-Mar
• 5Both YYZ and YVR have excellent transit links: Toronto UP Express to downtown (25 min, CA$12.35) and Vancouver Canada Line to downtown (26 min, CA$9)
• 6US dollars NOT widely accepted in Canada — convert to CAD or use a zero-forex card