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UK Visas and ETA
Last updated: 2026-09-17
What you need to visit the United Kingdom depends on your passport. Nationals of visa-required countries, including China, apply for a Standard Visitor visa; visa-exempt nationals, including Canadians, must obtain an electronic travel authorisation before travelling. Since February 25, 2026 the ETA has been enforced at the gate — without one, airlines will not let you board. This page covers both routes, their costs and the process.
- Standard Visitor visa
- Up to six months, £135
- Long-term visitor visa
- £506 for two years, £903 for five, £1,128 for ten — still six months per visit
- ETA
- £20, valid two years or until the passport expires, multiple entries
- Who it suits
- Tourism, family visits, business meetings, short courses and medical treatment
Official processing times
These visas are decided by each country's missions in Canada, and there is no single published dataset. Below are the official pages where each one publishes its processing times and appointment information:
- UK government: waiting times, applications outside the UKgov.uk ↗
- UK government: waiting times, applications inside the UKgov.uk ↗
We also chase interview appointments
Consular interview slots are often taken within minutes of opening. We monitor the booking systems, help pick the right location and rebook earlier slots where possible, and prepare the interview file alongside.
Book a consultationProcessing times and appointment availability swing with the season; in peak periods (summer, year end) an appointment can be weeks or months out. The links above are the official pages — their published figures govern.
Which one you need
Standard Visitor visa
- For nationals of visa-required countries such as China
- Stays of up to six months
- Can be filed up to three months before travel
- Fingerprints and a photo are taken at a visa application centre
Long-term visitor visa
- For people who visit the UK regularly
- Valid for two, five or ten years
- Still limited to six months per visit
- Repeat visits must not make the UK your main home
Electronic travel authorisation
- For visa-exempt nationals, including Canadians
- £20, applied for online
- Valid two years or until passport expiry
- Also covers Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man
What a visitor may do
- Tourism, visiting family and friends, medical treatment
- Business meetings, negotiations and conferences
- Volunteering or recreational courses of up to 30 days
- Qualifying permitted paid engagements
Eligibility
The Home Office's core requirements, around which the file should be built.
- A passport valid for the whole of your stay
- Evidence that you will leave the UK at the end of the visit
- Enough money to support yourself and any dependants during the visit
- The means to pay for your return or onward journey
- A genuine purpose that matches the category applied for
- No paid or unpaid work for a UK company and no self-employment, apart from permitted paid engagements
- No claiming public funds
- No using frequent or successive visits to make the UK your main home
Fees, from April 8, 2026
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa, up to six months | £135 |
| Long-term visitor visa, two years | £506 |
| Long-term visitor visa, five years | £903 |
| Long-term visitor visa, ten years | £1,128 |
| Electronic travel authorisation | £20 |
| Biometrics | Free within five working days at most centres; £76.50 for a standard appointment at some |
The Home Office revises fees periodically, so check the current table before filing. A long-term visa does not lengthen any single stay: two, five and ten years describe validity, while each visit is still capped at six months.
Home Office fee table →How to apply
- 1
Check whether you need a visa or an ETA
It follows your passport. A Chinese passport needs a visitor visa; a Canadian passport needs an ETA. Holding a Canadian PR card does not change the rule for a visa-required passport.
- 2
Apply online and pay
Visitor visas are filed and paid for on GOV.UK, up to three months before travel; ETAs are applied for online and usually decided within a day.
- 3
Attend the visa application centre
Visitor visa applicants give fingerprints and a photo. A biometrics-only appointment takes about 15 minutes, and most centres can offer one within five working days.
- 4
Submit supporting documents
Proof of funds, employment and income, itinerary and accommodation; for family visits, an invitation and proof of relationship. Everything should show both means and reasons to return.
- 5
Wait for the decision
Processing varies by location and volume, and the passport is normally held at the centre in the meantime.
- 6
Travel
Carry the itinerary, accommodation details and proof of funds. The period of stay is confirmed by the border officer on arrival.
Common questions
Does a ten-year visa let me live in the UK for ten years?+
No. Two, five and ten years describe how long the visa allows you to seek entry; each visit is still capped at six months. The rules also prohibit using frequent visits to make the UK your main home, so even trips that individually stay under six months can lead to refusal at the border if the pattern looks like residence.
Do Canadian citizens need a visa?+
No visa, but an electronic travel authorisation is required, at £20. It has been enforced since February 25, 2026, and airlines refuse boarding without one. It is valid for two years or until the passport expires, allows unlimited trips, and permits stays of up to six months each.
Can a visitor work or study?+
No work for a UK company and no self-employment, apart from qualifying permitted paid engagements. Recreational courses of up to 30 days and certain short study are allowed; a degree program requires a student visa.
Can I extend my stay once in the UK?+
Extensions are possible in limited circumstances, but the total stay is usually still bound by the six-month cap, with narrow exceptions such as medical treatment. Any extension must be filed before the current permission expires, and extensions cannot be used to live in the UK by instalments.
How long does an ETA take?+
Usually a decision by email within a day, though it can take up to three working days. Apply as soon as the trip is confirmed rather than just before departure. An ETA is tied to the passport, so a new passport means a new application.
Wondering whether you qualify?
Contact us for an assessment and plan tailored to your background.
Book a consultationThis page summarizes official information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for general reference only. Immigration rules change often, so always check IRCC's latest requirements. Every case is different — contact us for an assessment of your situation.