Air Canada has issued a system-wide bulletin advising customers that the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme enters enforcement on 25 February 2026. The notice, posted on 24 February, states that citizens of visa-exempt countries—including Canada, the U.S. and EU member states—must hold an approved £16 digital permit before boarding any flight that lands in or transits the UK. The carrier warns dual Canadian-British nationals that they cannot apply for an ETA and instead must travel on a valid UK passport or present a Certificate of Entitlement proving right of abode. Travellers are urged to apply at least 72 hours before departure via the UK Home Office’s mobile app or web portal; approvals are typically issued within minutes but can take up to three days. For global-mobility teams the change alters pre-trip compliance checklists: an employee with a last-minute meeting in London now needs both an ETA approval PDF and the passport whose details match the application.
![Air Canada Alerts Travellers to New UK ETA Requirement Taking Effect 25 February]()
Companies and individual travellers who prefer a streamlined approach can outsource the new UK ETA process to VisaHQ, which supports digital submissions through its Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/); the platform pre-checks passport data, pays the £16 fee, and delivers real-time status alerts—helping mobility teams avoid costly last-minute boarding denials.
Failure to secure the permit will trigger airline boarding denials and potential no-show fees not covered by most corporate fare contracts. Air Canada’s advisory also reminds passengers that an ETA does not guarantee entry; UK Border Force officers can still refuse admission, making it prudent to carry proof of onward travel and invitation letters for business visits. The ETA is valid for two years and multiple entries, aligning it conceptually with Canada’s own eTA and the U.S. ESTA systems.
Companies and individual travellers who prefer a streamlined approach can outsource the new UK ETA process to VisaHQ, which supports digital submissions through its Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/); the platform pre-checks passport data, pays the £16 fee, and delivers real-time status alerts—helping mobility teams avoid costly last-minute boarding denials.
Failure to secure the permit will trigger airline boarding denials and potential no-show fees not covered by most corporate fare contracts. Air Canada’s advisory also reminds passengers that an ETA does not guarantee entry; UK Border Force officers can still refuse admission, making it prudent to carry proof of onward travel and invitation letters for business visits. The ETA is valid for two years and multiple entries, aligning it conceptually with Canada’s own eTA and the U.S. ESTA systems.
