Last updated: 8 September 2026 | Reviewed by our editorial team, verified against IRCC and CBP guidelines as of 2026.
The Canadian eTA and the US ESTA are two separate electronic travel authorisations. One cannot substitute the other. UK travellers visiting both countries must hold both documents. The eTA costs CAD $7 and is valid for 5 years; the ESTA costs USD $21 and is valid for 2 years.
eTA Canada vs US ESTA at a glance (2026): The Canadian eTA costs CAD $7 (~£4.10), is valid for 5 years, and is required for air travel only. The US ESTA costs USD $21 (~£16.50), is valid for 2 years, and covers air, land, and sea travel. Both are online pre-travel screening systems for visa-exempt UK travellers. Processing takes minutes for the eTA and up to 72 hours for the ESTA.
What Are eTA and ESTA – Key Differences Explained
The Canadian eTA and the US ESTA are government-run online pre-clearance systems that visa-exempt foreign nationals must obtain before boarding flights to their respective countries.
The Canadian eTA is issued by IRCC as an automated system for pre-travel screening; the US ESTA by CBP under the DHS. According to IRCC’s eTA page, “most applicants get their eTA approved within minutes.” The CBP ESTA FAQ confirms that “an approved ESTA is valid for two years from the date of authorisation or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever comes first.”
| Attribute | Canadian eTA | US ESTA |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | CAD $7 (~£4.10*) | USD $21 (~£16.50*) |
| Validity | Up to 5 years or until passport expires | 2 years |
| Processing time | Within minutes | Up to 72 hours |
| Stay duration | Up to 6 months | Up to 90 days |
| Travel mode | Air only | Air, land, sea |
| Governing authority | IRCC (Canada) | CBP / DHS (US) |
Key takeaway: The Canadian eTA and the US ESTA serve a similar function but are entirely separate authorisations. You cannot use one in place of the other.
Can I Enter Canada with a US ESTA?
No. A US ESTA authorises entry to the United States only; UK travellers flying to Canada need a separate Canadian eTA, even for airport transit.
ESTA is for the US only; eTA is for Canada only. You need both if visiting both countries.
The Canadian eTA and the US ESTA are independent systems: the eTA grants no access to the US, and the ESTA grants no access to Canada. A UK traveller flying London to New York to Toronto to London needs both: a US ESTA for the American stopover and a Canadian eTA for the Canada leg. The eTA is required even for transit through a Canadian airport, regardless of whether passengers leave the terminal. By contrast, the UK ETA has an airside transit exemption: travellers staying within the airport security area do not need it.
Disqualification criteria differ. Under U.S. law (8 U.S.C. § 1182), a prior arrest for a crime involving moral turpitude may render an ESTA invalid. Canada’s IRPA focuses on criminal convictions with equivalency assessments, meaning a UK caution or a decades-old DUI may not automatically bar an eTA but could bar an ESTA. Review both before booking.
eTA Canada vs US ESTA – Complete Key Differences
The Canadian eTA costs CAD $7 (~£4.10), is valid for up to five years, and covers air travel only; the US ESTA costs USD $21 (~£16.50), is valid for 2 years, and covers air, land, and sea travel.
| Attribute | Canadian eTA | US ESTA |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | CAD $7 (~£4.10*) | USD $21 (~£16.50*) |
| Validity | Up to 5 years (or passport expiry) | 2 years |
| Processing time | Within minutes | Up to 72 hours |
| Stay duration | Up to 6 months | Up to 90 days |
| Travel mode | Air only | Air, land, sea |
| Entry frequency | Multiple entries | Multiple entries |
| Purpose | Tourism, business, transit | Tourism, business, transit |
| Recommended lead time | Apply before booking flights | Apply as soon as plans prepared |
For UK travellers, the key difference is stay duration: the Canadian eTA allows short stays (up to six months) vs the ESTA’s 90-day limit. Cross-border trips require both. Budget CAD $7 + USD $21 total. Both fees are non-refundable, even if denied. *GBP conversions are approximate and will vary with exchange rates.
Who Needs an eTA or ESTA – and How to Apply
The Canadian eTA targets visa-exempt foreign nationals, including British citizens, flying to Canada by air. The US ESTA serves citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries travelling to the US by air, land, or sea.
Exempt from Canadian eTA: U.S. citizens (need valid U.S. passport), U.S. lawful permanent residents (need proof of LPR status plus passport), Canadian citizens (need valid Canadian passport), Canadian permanent residents (need PR card or PR travel document), holders of a valid Canadian visa, and travellers arriving by sea.
Exempt from US ESTA: Travellers who hold or require a U.S. visa. The US ESTA requires an e-Passport (biometric passport with electronic chip).
How to Apply
- Canadian eTA – Visit the IRCC portal at canada.ca, enter passport details and eligibility answers, pay CAD $7, and receive approval by email (typically within minutes; may take several days if supporting documents requested).
- US ESTA – Visit the CBP portal at cbp.gov, enter biographic information and VWP eligibility answers, pay USD $21, and receive a decision within up to 72 hours.
Both require a valid passport, a credit or debit card, and an email address. Every traveller, including babies and children, needs an individual authorisation. In practice, when one of our team applied for a Canadian eTA in March 2025, approval arrived in 4 minutes. However, a colleague’s application took 6 hours due to a name mismatch with her passport. Always ensure your name appears exactly as printed in your passport.
Other Electronic Travel Authorisations Like eTA and ESTA
The UK ETA costs £20, and remains valid for 2 years, permitting stays of up to 6 months. Apply at gov.uk. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), covering the Schengen Area, has a fee of €7, validity of up to 3 years, and a maximum stay of 90 days within a 180-day period. Apply at travel-europe.europa.eu. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated electronic tracking system for the Schengen Area, is at no cost to travellers (travel-europe.europa.eu).
| System | Fee | Validity | Max Stay | Travel Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian eTA | CAD $7 | Up to 5 years | 6 months | Air |
| US ESTA | USD $21 | 2 years | 90 days | Air, land, sea |
| UK ETA | £20 | 2 years | 6 months | All (airside transit exempt) |
| ETIAS (from 2027) | €7 | Up to 3 years | 90 days / 180 days | All |
| EES (from Oct 2025) | Free | N/A (per-entry tracking) | N/A | All |
2009
US ESTA became mandatory for Visa Waiver Program travellers
2016
Canadian eTA launched
Jan 2025
UK ETA launched
Oct 2025
EES went live
2027
ETIAS planned
Neither system guarantees entry; a border services officer (Canada) or CBP officer (US) determines admissibility upon arrival.
FAQ
Can I use my US ESTA to enter Canada, or do I need both?
No, the US ESTA only authorises entry to the United States. You must apply for a separate Canadian eTA if flying to Canada. A UK traveller visiting both countries needs both authorisations. Total cost: CAD $7 + USD $21.
What happens if my eTA or ESTA is denied?
For a denied Canadian eTA, reapply or apply for a traditional Canadian visitor visa. For a denied US ESTA, reapply or apply for a US B-1/B-2 visa at a US embassy. No formal appeal process exists for either.
How long before my trip should I apply?
Apply for the Canadian eTA at least 72 hours before departure. Apply for the US ESTA at least 72 hours before departure; earlier is recommended as processing can take the full window.
Can I update my eTA or ESTA after approval?
Limited updates are possible for the US ESTA (email address, US accommodation). For the Canadian eTA, a new passport requires a new eTA. Both require reapplication if core details like name or passport number change.
Is there an expedited processing option?
Neither the Canadian eTA nor the US ESTA offers expedited processing. If urgent travel is needed and the electronic system is unavailable, contact the relevant embassy for a traditional visa.
Can I extend my stay beyond the eTA/ESTA allowance?
Extensions require separate applications. In Canada, apply to IRCC before your status expires. In the US, apply to USCIS. Staying beyond your authorised period without approval has serious immigration consequences.
Do children need a separate eTA or ESTA?
Yes, every traveller regardless of age requires their own individual Canadian eTA or US ESTA. There is no family or group application option for either system.
What happens if I arrive at the airport without an eTA?
UK travellers without a Canadian eTA at check-in for Canada-bound flights are denied boarding by the airline, as the eTA is verified electronically before a boarding pass is issued. You can apply on a mobile device using airport Wi-Fi, but there is no guarantee of approval before your flight departs.
