eTA or visitor visa — which are you?
British citizens (and citizens of other visa-exempt countries) flying to Canada need only an eTA — Electronic Travel Authorisation: CAD $7, applied online, usually approved within minutes, valid five years or until your passport expires.
UK residents holding passports from visa-required countries — including Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and many others — need a Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) regardless of UK immigration status. A UK BRP does not waive the Canadian requirement.
The visitor visa, step by step
- ·Create an IRCC secure account and complete the online application (IMM 5257)
- ·Pay CAD $100 visa fee + CAD $85 biometrics per person
- ·Book and attend biometrics at a UK VAC (London or Manchester)
- ·Upload: passport, UK residence evidence, 3–6 months' bank statements, employment letter, travel itinerary and ties-to-UK evidence
- ·Wait for the decision, then submit your passport for the visa vignette when requested
Current processing from the UK typically runs 3–8 weeks after biometrics, longer in summer. Apply at least two months before travel; invitations to family events should include the host's Canadian status documents and an invitation letter.
Approval rate boosters our visa desk applies
The refusals we see share the same gaps: unexplained deposits in statements, no employer letter, and itineraries that don't match the stated purpose. A clean, consistent file — where dates, funds and purpose all tell one story — approves far more often.
We prepare the full IRCC submission, provide the flight reservation consulates expect (without you buying a ticket first), and book your biometrics slot. One fee, one checklist, no guesswork.