Canada entry requirements for British passport holders (2026): visa and passport validity
Passport validity (FCDO rule): Valid for the whole stay (until the day you leave)
Visa (FCDO): Read the official visa text below
Official source: GOV.UK – Canada travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO) · page last updated 2 June 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Whether you need a visa and how long your British passport must be valid to enter Canada, as published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), quoted word for word, with a checker for your dates.
Other passports: Australian passport · Italian citizens: documenti per italiani
Driving in Canada, do you need an international driving permit? UK licence · Australian licence
Do I need a visa for Canada with a British passport?
We quote the FCDO text word for word and do not summarise it: its first sentence has conditions or a wording we do not turn into a one-line answer.
To enter or transit through Canada, most people need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) – not both.
Check if you need a visa or an eTA online.
You do not need a visa for short visits (normally up to 6 months). You may need an eTA instead.
You do not need an eTA, if you are:
- arriving by land and sea – you must have acceptable travel documents and ID
- a British-Canadian dual national – you must have a valid Canadian passport
See Canada’s entry requirements for full details of eTA and visa requirements.
Contact the Canadian High Commission in the UK if you are unsure about visa requirements or your eligibility to enter the country, for example, if you have a criminal record or have been arrested.
More from the FCDO visa section (extensions, border checks and other cases)
Checks at border control
Canadian border officials may ask you to show a return or onward ticket and proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your stay, even if you are staying with family or friends.
Visas for permanent residence, study or work
See information on visas for permanent residence, study or work in Canada.
Official source: GOV.UK – Canada travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO), section “Visa requirements” · page last updated 2 June 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Passport validity: official text “Passport validity requirements”
To enter Canada, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.
If you’re travelling through another country on your way to or from Canada, check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.
Official source: GOV.UK – Canada travel advice, Entry requirements (FCDO) · page last updated 2 June 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026
Check your passport for Canada
Schengen rules count your whole trip in the Schengen area: if you visit several Schengen countries, enter the day you first enter the area and the day you leave the last Schengen country.
The check runs in your browser: your dates are not sent anywhere. It applies the FCDO sentence literally (for example “6 months” is counted as the same day of the month 6 months later).
For British passport holders only. These are the rules published by the UK government (FCDO) for British citizens. If you hold another passport, check your own government's advice. The airline and the border officials of the destination decide whether you can travel or enter: this site is information, not legal advice.
Also in the official text
Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.
Recent FCDO updates to the entry requirements
- 2 June 2026: “Addition of information about entry requirements for those entering from Ebola-affected regions ('Entry requirements' page).”
- 10 December 2025: “New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).”
- 24 March 2023: “Removal of COVID-19 testing requirements for travellers to Canada from China, Hong Kong or Macao ('Summary', 'Coronavirus' and 'Entry requirements' pages).”
- 4 January 2023: “Addition of information about new requirements for travelling to Canada from China, Hong Kong or Macao from 5 January 2023 ('Summary', 'Coronavirus' and 'Entry requirements' pages).”
- 4 January 2023: “Addition of information about new requirements for travelling to Canada from China, Hong Kong or Macao from 5 January 2023 ('Summary', 'Coronavirus' and 'Entry requirements' pages).”
Read the full FCDO travel advice for Canada (safety, visas, health) before you travel.
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Same FCDO rule (Valid for the whole stay)
and 19 more destinations with the same rule: see all
Passport validity rules for all destinations · Liquids rules by airport · EES and ETIAS status