Can I apply for a visa or eTA at the embassy?
Travellers need a valid travel authorisation to travel to Canada. The only exception is for travellers who hold a US or Canadian passport. There are many types of Canada visa, some of which can be obtained online, but also an electronic travel authorisation. This travel authorisation, the eTA Canada, is only available online.
The Canadian Embassy does not issue visas
In the UK, there are several consulates, In Edinburgh, Wales, and Belfast, as well as a High Commission of Canada located in London. There is also an embassy in Dublin, Ireland. These locations ultimately help Canadians living abroad with different administrative governmental needs, such as passport renovation or other document processes. These consulates do not provide travellers with visa services. Fortunately, most tourists and business travellers do not need a visa and can simply apply for an eTA.
This is because the activities of the Embassy of Canada focus on supporting Canadians abroad and maintaining and fostering relations between Canada and Ireland and the UK. The embassy does not provide consular services to individuals who are not Canadian nationals.
eTA online application often sufficient
In most cases, European travellers qualify for an eTA as an alternative to a visa, for their trip to Canada. Fortunately, applying for an eTA does not require scheduling an appointment at the embassy, rather simply filling in a digital application form. You must meet a number of requirements to apply for the eTA. If you do not meet all these requirements, you will still need to apply for a visa. Most visa application procedures can be done online.
If you need to apply for a different kind of visa that cannot be applied for online, you can make an appointment at a Visa Application Centre. Here you can apply for a Canada visa in person. There is a Visa Application Centre in London.
Online application visas
1. eTA - electronic Travel Authorization
This electronic travel authorisation is easy to apply for. If you and your trip meet all the conditions of the eTA Canada, this is the easiest and cheapest option. To apply for this travel authorisation, all you need to do is fill in your personal details in an online application form. This form allows you to apply for multiple travellers at the same time, as long as you have permission from each traveller to do so and have the passport details of all travellers on hand.
In some cases, an eTA also allows you to study or exchange.
To apply for an eTA Canada, you cannot go to a Visa Application Centre. The only way to obtain the eTA is through the aforementioned online application process. One of the advantages of this travel authorisation is that you do not need to provide a photo or scan of the passport or other documents. You need to fill in the passport details of each applicant extremely carefully. If you make a mistake in the form, the eTA will not be valid, and you will have to reapply with the correct details.
The eTA application form found on this website can be filled in at your convenience.
Use the simple form to apply for an eTA2. Temporary residence visas
In the rare case that you as a European traveller cannot apply for an eTA Canada for your tourist or business trip, you will need to apply for a temporary resident visa. You may also need a visa instead of an eTA for other purposes, such as working or studying in Canada. Temporary resident visas for Canada can only be applied for through an online application form.
Applying for a visa in Canada requires more information than an eTA application. In addition, a visa application requires the submission of documents. Which documents you need to submit digitally differs per visa type. What you will need to submit in any case is a digital copy of the passport you will use for your trip to Canada.
What are temporary resident visas?
Temporary residence visas come in four varieties: a visitor visa, a study visa, a work visa and a visa intended for a combination of work and holiday. A visitor visa is intended for travellers with a tourist or business purpose and is only required if the traveller does not meet the conditions of the eTA Canada. This is because the eTA offers mostly the same features as any variant of the visitor visa.
3. Express Entry for permanent residence permits
Those who want to live in Canada permanently need a permanent residence permit. One way to obtain a permanent residence permit for Canada is through the Express Entry system. This system is designed for foreign workers with a specific skill or specialisation within their work who want to immigrate to Canada. The Express Entry system consists of three programmes, each with slightly different requirements.
To qualify for Permanent Resident (PR-status) through the Express Entry system, an applicant must meet strict requirements. During the online application process, you have to answer several questions and you also have to be able to provide several documents to prove that you meet the required conditions. A points system is used to assess the applicant's ability. The chances of obtaining PR status are increased based on the conditions the applicant meets.
Permanent residence permits
Apart from the Express Entry system, there are no other ways to apply for permanent residence permits online. However, there are several other ways to qualify for PR status.
Each of these other options for obtaining PR status is through a Visa Application Centre (VAC). There may be other authorized visa offices throughout the country besides the Visa Application Centre.
Here is a situation where it is possible to obtain PR status. Suppose you have recently completed a study in Canada while on a study permit. In some cases, it is possible to have this temporary residence permit converted into a permanent residence permit. To do so, however, you will have to make an appointment at a VAC, where you will have to be able to prove, for instance, that you, have made exceptional academic achievements.
Apply for your eTA Canada now
