How to Apply for an Eta

The first thing to check is where you’re travelling. A UK ETA and a Canadian eTA are different travel authorisations, with different forms, fees, and application routes.

Use the UK process if you’re visiting the United Kingdom. Use the Canadian process if Canada is your destination. Don’t choose an application just because the names look similar.

First, confirm whether you need a UK ETA or a Canadian eTA

An ETA is not a general travel document for every country. The requirement depends on the country you plan to visit and your nationality.

Before you start, ask:

1. Am I travelling to the UK or Canada?
2. Does that destination require an ETA or eTA for my nationality?
3. Which passport will I use for the trip?

The UK uses the name ETA, meaning electronic travel authorisation. The Canadian version is written eTA, with a lowercase “e”.

For the UK, the ETA covers tourism, visiting family, and certain other reasons for stays of up to six months. That description alone doesn’t confirm that every traveller needs one. Your nationality and travel plans still matter.

Canada has its own eTA rules and application. Don’t assume that qualifying for a UK ETA means you also qualify for a Canadian eTA, or the other way around.

What about US citizens?

If you’re a US citizen, don’t rely on general travel advice or assume the same rule applies in both countries. Check the requirement for the specific destination before you pay.

The available application routes are clear:

• A UK ETA application is made online or through the UK ETA app.
• A Canadian eTA application is made through Canada’s online form.

The key question is still whether your passport and trip require that authorisation.

What you need before starting an ETA application

Get your documents ready first. This makes it easier to spot a problem before you begin and helps you avoid entering details from the wrong passport.

For a UK ETA, you need:

• The valid passport you’ll use to travel
• An email address
• A payment method, such as a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or another payment option shown in the application

For a Canadian eTA, you need:

• A valid passport
• An email address
• A credit card or debit card

The passport matters most. The application should match the passport you plan to present for the journey. If you have more than one passport, check the destination’s rules and use the correct one for the application.

Have access to your email while applying. The address is needed for the application process and for messages about it.

Before paying, check the spelling of:

• Your name
• Your passport number
• Your date of birth
• Your passport details
• Your email address

A small typing mistake can create trouble later, especially if the application is connected to the wrong passport information.

How to apply for a UK ETA online or in the UK ETA app

You can apply for an ETA UK visit through the official online application or the official UK ETA app.

Choose the route that works best for you. The app is useful if you prefer to apply from a phone. The website may be easier if you’re working on a larger screen or helping another traveller.

Step 1: Open the official UK route

Start with the official UK ETA application website or the official UK ETA app. Be careful with search results and third-party services. A page that looks official may charge extra or ask you to use a different process.

Step 2: Enter the traveller’s passport details

Use the passport that will be used for the UK trip. Enter the information exactly as it appears in the passport.

This is also the point where you should make sure you’re applying for the person who will actually travel. If you’re helping a family member, enter their details rather than yours.

Step 3: Add the email address

Enter an email address the applicant can access. Check it carefully before moving on. A mistyped address can make it difficult to see application updates or other messages.

Step 4: Complete the UK application

Answer the questions in the online form or app. The exact questions may depend on the applicant and their circumstances, so read each one carefully rather than rushing through it.

The UK ETA is intended for tourism, visiting family, and certain other reasons for visits of up to six months. If your planned activity does not fit those reasons, don’t assume an ETA is the right permission.

Step 5: Pay the fee

The UK ETA costs £20 when you apply online or through the app.

The application accepts a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or another payment method listed in the official route. Check the amount and applicant details before confirming payment.

Step 6: Save the application details

Keep the confirmation email and any reference information. You should also remember which passport was used. The authorisation is tied to the travel document entered in the application, so taking a different passport can cause a mismatch.

How to apply for a Canadian eTA

The Canadian process is separate. To apply for eTA Canada, use the official Canadian online application form.

Step 1: Go to the official Canadian application page

Look for the Canadian government’s official eTA application route. Don’t use the UK ETA app or a UK form for a trip to Canada.

The phrase eTA Canada application official website can help you find the right type of page, but check that you’re using the official application route before entering personal details or paying.

Step 2: Prepare the traveller’s passport

You’ll need a valid passport. Use the passport that the traveller plans to use for the Canadian trip.

Type the passport information carefully. Compare every number and letter with the document before continuing.

Step 3: Enter an email address

Provide an email address that the applicant can access. Review it for spelling mistakes. The application process uses email, so an incorrect address can make follow-up harder.

Step 4: Complete the online form

Fill in the Canadian eTA form with the traveller’s information. Read the questions closely and answer for the person named in the application.

If you’re applying for a child, relative, or another traveller, don’t mix their answers with your own. The application belongs to the traveller whose passport details you enter.

Step 5: Pay the Canadian fee

A Canadian eTA application costs $7 CAD. You’ll need a credit card or debit card to pay through the online form.

Check the fee and the applicant’s details before submitting the payment.

Step 6: Keep the email and passport details

Save the application email and note which passport was used. If the traveller later plans to use another passport, don’t assume the original eTA will match it. Check the official Canadian route for the correct next step.

How much a UK ETA or Canadian eTA costs

The fee depends on the destination. There isn’t one standard ETA price.

The UK fee is in pounds. The Canadian fee is in Canadian dollars. Don’t compare the numbers as if they were the same currency.

Also, be wary of pages that add service charges. Before paying, confirm that you’re on the official UK or Canadian application route and that the amount shown matches the destination you’re visiting.

Pick the right time to apply

Apply well before your trip, rather than leaving the application until the day you travel.

The available guidance does not give one universal number of days that works for every traveller or every application. That means you shouldn’t treat a last-minute application as safe simply because the form looks short.

A sensible approach is:

• Confirm the requirement when you begin planning the trip.
• Apply after you know which passport you’ll use.
• Leave time to fix a mistake if you enter the wrong information.
• Check the application message before travelling.

If you’re travelling soon, use the relevant official route now. Don’t switch between the UK and Canadian systems while trying to guess which one applies. The correct destination comes first.

Applying for an ETA for someone else

You can help another traveller complete an application, but the information must belong to that traveller.

This is useful if you’re arranging travel for:

• A child
• A partner or family member
• An older traveller
• Someone who has trouble using online forms

Start with the traveller’s passport, not your own. Enter their name, date of birth, passport number, and other requested details. Use an email address that the traveller or their authorised helper can check.

For the UK, you can use the online application or the UK ETA app. For Canada, use the Canadian online form. The destination decides the route, even if you’re completing the form on someone else’s behalf.

Before paying, read the completed application back against the traveller’s passport. This is especially important when several people are applying together. Don’t assume that submitting one person’s details creates applications for the whole group. Check each traveller separately.

You can usually use your own payment card when helping someone, if that payment method is accepted by the relevant application. What matters most is that the application details match the person travelling and the passport they’ll use.

Common mistakes when choosing an ETA application route

Most ETA problems start before the form is submitted. They happen when a traveller chooses the wrong destination, uses the wrong passport, or relies on an unclear website.

Watch for these mistakes:

Treating the UK ETA and Canadian eTA as the same document

They are different authorisations. A UK ETA does not replace a Canadian eTA, and a Canadian eTA does not replace a UK ETA.

Using the wrong application system

For the UK, use the official UK website or UK ETA app. For Canada, use the official Canadian online form.

Don’t use the UK app to apply for Canada. Don’t use a Canadian form for a UK trip.

Assuming your nationality makes the answer obvious

US citizens and other travellers should check the rule for the country they’re visiting. The fact that one nationality may use an ETA in one country does not settle the requirement elsewhere.

The same applies to travel in Europe. There isn’t one general answer for every European country based on the UK information here. Check the specific country you plan to visit.

Applying with a different passport from the one you’ll travel with

Use the passport entered in the application. Check the details before submitting, especially if you hold multiple passports or have recently renewed one.

Looking only at the price

The UK fee is £20. The Canadian fee is $7 CAD. The currencies and destinations differ, and a third-party website may add its own charge.

Before paying, match the application route to your destination and verify the current fee and eligibility on the official UK or Canadian website. That simple check can keep a UK ETA application separate from a Canadian eTA application—and help you start with the right form.