UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN

United Kingdom
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Do I Need a Visa to Visit the United Kingdom?

Canadian citizens using Canadian passports do not require a visa to enter the United Kingdom for tourism or business stays under ninety (90) days.

Foreigners holding a valid Canadian Permanent Resident Card issued on or after 28 June 2002 do not need a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) when transiting the UK.

All other nationals will need a visa.

All applications and payments are made on-line through Worldbridge, an office of the UK Border Agency. YOU MUST APPLY ON YOUR OWN through the following U.K. government web sites.

CLICK HERE for U.K. High Commission web site

CLICK HERE for U.K. High Commission VISAS web site

CLICK HERE for U.K. Worldbridge Visa Application Centre

CLICK HERE for U.K. Border Agency web site

The UK requires visa applicants to have their fingerprints scanned and digital photographs made of their face. Applicants will have to personally attend one of five locations in Canada for the biometric scanning. These offices are in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton (and a monthly office in Halifax). When you apply you must state which location is most convenient for you, as you will be REQUIRED to attend in person for visa processing.

Due to severe budget cuts in the UK, the High Commission in Ottawa was forced to close their visa processing office in October 2011. All visas for people in Canada are now processed in the United States. After biometrics processing in Canada, you must ship the sealed package to the UK visa office in the USA. There is no longer an office in Canada. Please allow a couple of months for processing due to the massive backlog and reduced staff numbers.

For more information about travel conditions, please visit the Foreign Affairs Web site.