Do UAE citizens need visa for Canada? Well, guess what? NO! UAE citizens can travel to Canada without a visa in the pocket. This rule was implemented on 5th June 2018. Emiratis can now fly to Canada and only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Do UAE Citizens Need Visa For Canada?

UAE citizens are exempted from visas, and they only need an eTA to visit Canada.

This step was taken after a meeting was held between UAE’s  Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, on a broad and rigorous evaluation of the UAE against Canada’s visa policy criteria’. 

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussain said, “ The United Arab Emirates is a key strategic partner, and lifting the visa requirement will help reaffirm the strong relationship between our two countries. It will also promote increased tourism, cultural, academic, and study exchanges, as well as foster new business, trade, and investment opportunities.”  you can stay for 6 months each time you visit Canada. 

Though Emiratis think do UAE citizens who need visas for Canada to still go for study or work temporarily, they will still need to apply for a study or work permit even after the visa is terminated. 

The Visa Application Center (VAC) in Dubai only provides administrative services. It gives general knowledge related to temporary resident applications that include study and work permits and travel documents for permanent residents of Canada.

What is an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)?

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a new provision for foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada. Everyone who doubted that UAE citizens need visas for Canada by air, whether to visit the country or even to pass through it in transit. UAE comes under the list of visa exempted countries and thus require an eTA for whoever thinks do UAE citizens need visa for Canada. ETa is the solution. 

Following are people who don’t require eTA-

• Those who already have a valid visa to enter Canada
• If you enter by land or sea
• Armed forces visiting for duty
• Students who have Canadian permit dated on or after 15th august 2015
• Accredited diplomats

The free visa status applies to Emiratis traveling to Canada for short stays like business, tourism, or to meet family and friends.  

How to get an eTA?

You can apply for the form through the Canadian federal government website. 

All you will require is-

• Passport- check your passport’s expiry date before applying and should have validity for at least another 6 months from the date of arrival in Canada.
• Credit Card to pay the fees or any means of payment- you have to make a payment in the online application process. Use the one that is most convenient for you. 
• Email address- The eTA directly gets linked to your passport, and the copy of authorization comes on the email id. 

To apply for an eTA, click here.

Or visit this website.

The Canadian government advises that you apply for the eTA as soon as you are ready for the travel itinerary.  

Though, it can be obtained last-minute through a smartphone too. There will be an email authorization, which will only take a few minutes. 

No need to print the eTA. It gets automatically linked to your passport or travel document. 

The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is valid for five years, or even until your passport or travel documents expire.

Various Immigration Possibilities for UAE Citizens

Skilled workers and professionals–

Canadian Immigration Program allows UAE immigrants to live and work in Canada as a skilled worker through Express Entry.  This new system will allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to pro-actively assess and recruit immigrants who are skilled or possess relevant qualifications under federal economic immigration programs. 

The Express Entry also allows individual provinces to use the system to recruit suitable candidates as part of the Provincial Nominee Programs to meet labor market demands.

Quebec Skilled Workers Program–

UAE immigrants who want to settle as permanent residents in Quebec’s Canadian province and think do UAE citizens need visa for Canada are eligible for immigration to Quebec through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is a points-based initiative operated separately by Canada’s government for skilled workers. The successful candidate can bring their family members to Quebec, and a job offer is not required.

Provincial Nominee Program

Candidates for Canadian work visas under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) relish a speedy visa application process. Intending UAE immigrants under PNP should have the necessary skills, proper education, sufficient work experience, and a passing language examination result from semi or low-skilled trades or professions.

To certify under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), a Canadian province must nominate an applicant. Many Canadian provinces have an arrangement with the national Government of Canada to carry out their prerogative of nominating immigrant workers who are likely to establish themselves in their provinces.

Family Sponsorship

Immigration to Canada from Dubai can also be possible through the Canadian Family Sponsorship Program. To qualify for that, you must already have a family who is either citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Your relative must first show an interest in becoming a sponsor.

IRCC receives expressions of interest for only a specific time each year. The intended sponsor will have to wait until the following year if the deadline passes. IRCC invites very selected people to apply to be sponsors. If your relative approves and applies, your eligibility for permanent residency will then be assessed.

There is a financial commitment to your sponsor. The person is financially responsible for you while you get settled in Canada.

For information on work, visit, and tourist visas, click here. 

Do UAE citizens need visa for Canada? No. Here’s Why.

The Process of Immigration From UAE to Canada

 The first step when you think that UAE citizens need visa for Canada is that you decide whether you want to work in Canada or want to live there permanently. You can always directly apply for a permanent resident visa, which is permitted when they give you permanent resident status. You can even apply for a work visa first and then get a residency visa once you go to Canada.

A residence visa is open to certain candidates only, like those who have at least 1 year of paid full-time work or those who have earned a Ph.D. in Canada or have studied towards a Ph.D. in the country from a certified institution. Candidates should also pass language proficiency tests in English or French.

Click here to know more.

For all those who think they do, UAE citizens need visas for Canada. Entering Canada with a work visa is easy once you have the support of a Canadian employer. The good part about using a work visa to enter Canada from UAE is that you have a job waiting for you once you reach, i.e., that you are all-set money wise once you land.

If you want to move to Canada and work for a residency card using a work visa, you need to qualify for Arranged Employment, which requires a Labor Market Opinion and a full-time, permanent job offer from a certified employer/company. Moving from UAE to Canada as a professional worker will increase your possibility and chances of success.

To get an Immigration lawyer, click here.

Why UAE Citizens travel to Canada?

Education

Cities in the UAE are not well known for an ideal education target. In contrast, Canada is always known for its excellent universities and educational institutions that offer world-class educational facilities attracting many students for many years. Canadian universities and institutions have a long list of courses to offer to their international students.

Canada is considered a safe, prosperous, and peaceful country for students to pursue an education in this nation. The best part is that after completing your education in Canada, when someone thinks do UAE citizens need visa for Canada,  Canadian Immigration also offers Canadian PR so that international students can do the work and settle down in Canada itself.

Jobs

To know that UAE citizens need visas for Canada, many workers are always looking forward to migrating to Canada on Canada Work Visa. The country is famous as the land of opportunities, and that is why it offers many job prospects to immigrants and skilled employees all around its provinces. 

Due to a shortage of skills in the country, Canadian companies themselves are always looking to fill up the vacant occupations with foreign skilled workers. The employment sector always has a demand for job seekers in IT, healthcare, the construction sector, etc.

Immigrants can also benefit from Canadian Citizenship in almost or every three years of migration into the nation, along with PR’s status.

Cost of Living

Toronto (Canada’s most populated city) has about 15% cheaper food as compared to Dubai. Housing in Toronto is way too much cheaper as compared to housing in Dubai. The monthly rent for accommodation in a normal-priced area in Dubai is around 6,072 dirhams, while in Toronto, it is about and around 5,629 dirhams.  In Toronto, the daily bread for about 2 people for the day is around $5, whereas, in Dubai, it’s around $7.

Getting Around

Canada’s public transport system is swift in the major cities; the Toronto Subway, Montreal Metro, and Vancouver SkyTrain. It consists of trains, ferries, buses, etc. There are various bus operators with Greyhound offering the most extensive service across Canada.

For knowing the bus and train pattern, you will need to look into other factors by staying in a few nights at motels. You might feel the experience of traveling across the country is worth the extra time involved.

After all the policy changes, the final answer to ‘do UAE citizens need visa for Canada?’ is that no, they only need an eTA to visit Canada. They now fly to Canada and only need an Electronic Travel Authorization.

The Visa Application Center provides administrative services and gives knowledge related to temporary resident applications that include study and work permits and travel documents for permanent residents of Canada.

You can directly apply for a permanent resident visa, or you can even apply for a work visa first and then work on getting a residency visa once you go to Canada.