09 December 2010

Visiting the UK High Commission

This morning I had the great honour and pleasure of having breakfast in the High Commission of the United Kingdom here in Ottawa. We were hosted by Sir Anthony Cary, the outgoing high commissioner. After breakfast he took us to see the UK's visa processing centre overlooking central Ottawa. There a large staff process nearly 20 000 visas per year. Summer is their busiest time, with lots of students applying for visas in order to attend UK universities. During the rest of the year their visa officers are usually reviewing applications from non-Canadians who need a visa to travel on the passport of their home country. UK visa rules will be changing in the new year, as will prices.

Canadians do not need a visa to visit the UK as tourists or on business.

Visa Services Canada does not do visas to the United Kingdom. This is due to the fact that the UK visa application process is totally automated and electronic. There is no paper form. Clients pay electronically, and apply electronically. Then clients make an appointment through the UK website for a visit to a UK biometrics office near them. This is all done on-line.

Click here for UK visa details and electronic application forms and electronic payment, as well as information on biometric scanning.