Travel visa · Americas · 2026

Canada visa for UAE residents (2026)

Canada asks most UAE residents — Emirati citizens included — for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). The application is filed online with IRCC, biometrics are taken once every 10 years at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and the visa sticker goes into the passport only after approval.

Visitor visa (TRV): CAD 100 Filed online; every applicant pays, including children
Biometrics: CAD 85 Once every 10 years; family maximum CAD 170
Stay per visit: Up to 6 months Decided by the border officer on arrival
Processing time: Varies Check current IRCC times before booking travel; extensions inside Canada cost CAD 100

Visas

Who needs this visa

UAE citizens: TRV required — Canada is not visa-free for UAE passports
Expatriate residents on all common passports: the same TRV route
Officers assess ties to the UAE: employment, income, family and previous travel history
Where to apply: online IRCC account; biometrics and passport submission at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi

Document checklist

Passports for all travellers, valid beyond the trip
Digital photo to IRCC specification
Copy of the UAE residence visa
Employer letter or NOC: position, salary, approved leave
Bank statements for the last 4-6 months
Travel itinerary (reservations are enough)
Invitation letter and the inviter's status in Canada, if visiting family or friends
Pay slips or proof of business ownership, where relevant
Marriage and birth certificates when family members travel together

Process

How it works

Create an IRCC account
Day 0

Choose the visitor visa checklist and answer the guided questions — the system generates your document list.
Pay the fees
Same day

CAD 100 for the visa plus CAD 85 for biometrics, online by card.
Give biometrics
Within 30 days of the request

Book the nearest VFS centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi; if you gave fingerprints for any Canadian application after 2018, they are likely still valid.
Officer review
Weeks to months

IRCC may ask for extra documents; silence at this stage is normal.
Submit the passport
About 1-2 weeks

After approval the passport goes to VFS for the visa sticker and is returned by courier.
Travel
-

Carry proof of funds, the return booking and the NOC; the border officer sets the actual length of stay.

Fees and rules checked September 2026 — confirm with the application center before booking.

Visa fees

Fee item	Amount
Visitor visa (TRV)	CAD 100
Biometrics	CAD 85 (CAD 170 per family)
Extension of stay inside Canada (visitor record)	CAD 100
VFS service charge	Paid at the centre, if applicable

Government fees are set in local currency; service fees are set by the application center. Checked Sep 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE citizens need a visa for Canada?

Yes. Unlike the UK or Australia, Canada keeps UAE passports on the visa-required list, so Emirati citizens apply for a TRV on the same terms as everyone else. The route is identical: online forms, CAD 100, biometrics.

How often do I give biometrics?

Once every 10 years. If your fingerprints were taken for any Canadian application after 2018 and are still valid, you pay the CAD 85 but skip the centre visit.

How long can I stay in Canada?

Usually up to 6 months per visit; the border officer sets the exact date. A longer stay requires an extension filed before your current period expires.

What strengthens a weak application?

Long employment in the UAE, a NOC with approved leave, steady bank history and previous travel to Schengen, the UK or the US. Refusals stem mainly from doubts that you will leave Canada, not from money alone.