UK introduces electronic travel authorisations for Canadians wishing to travel to the country
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Canadians will now need to obtain an electronic travel authorisation if they plan to travel to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, even for short visits.
Canada is one of 50 countries allowed to apply for the travel document and the UK government is expected to list 30 more countries that will be able to apply by March 5.
Travellers will have to submit their passport details, travel dates and modes of transport to authorities for review in advance, as part of a new digital pre-screening process.
The changes come into effect on Wednesday. According to the British government, Canadians who hold a British visa or who have dual citizenship will not be affected by the new regulations.
The applicant's information will be checked against a global database before approval.
The system is designed to address issues around immigration and refugee status in the UK.
The application will cost around $18 per hour, but prices are likely to increase over time and may vary depending on the time of year.
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Unauthorised travellers can leave on arrival and return to their home country. Once an ETA is granted, the individual authorisation is valid for two years and can be used as many times as you wish during this period.
However, an ETA does not allow you to stay in the UK for more than six months or to do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, among other things.
27 EU countries are expected to launch similar schemes by the end of the year.
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