eTA / UK ETA

Canada's and the UK's electronic travel authorisations for eligible visitors. Like ESTA, these let visa-exempt travellers get pre-approved online rather than applying for a full visa, usually valid for multiple entries over a set period. Business travellers need to check well ahead of a trip whether their nationality requires an eTA or UK ETA before departure.

Canada's eTA is required for visa-exempt travellers flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport. It is linked to the passport and is typically valid for up to five years or until the passport expires. The UK ETA was introduced in stages from 2023 and now applies to most visa-exempt visitors, including citizens of the GCC countries, the European Union and the United States. It is usually valid for two years or until the passport expires and allows multiple visits of up to six months each. US citizens do not need a Canadian eTA, and travellers who need a full visa for either country cannot use these schemes.

Both systems are applied for online or through official mobile apps and are usually approved quickly, but travellers should not leave the application until the last minute. It is important to use only official government websites, since unofficial services often charge much higher fees. Companies with frequent travellers to Canada or the UK can include these authorisations in their pre-trip checklist and track their expiry in traveller profiles, just as they would with visas and passports.

Tumodo keeps trips to Canada and the UK organised from start to finish. Travellers can compare flights from 500+ airlines, book hotels and transfers in the same trip and keep all documents in one place in the personal account and mobile app. Passport details are stored in traveller profiles for accurate bookings, and visa assistance is available through Tumodo's support team.