Canada to lift visa requirements for Emirati passport holders effective from 5.30PM on Jun 5, 2018, announced by Canadian Government. But they need to register online for ETA before visiting Canada. As many as 40,000 Canadians live and work in the United Arab Emirates and over 150 canadian companies have presence in UAE.
Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, announced today during a meeting with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, that the Government is lifting the visa requirement for UAE citizens on June 5, 2018.
This decision is based on a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the UAE against Canada’s visa policy criteria. The evaluation found that the UAE meets Canada’s criteria for a visa exemption.
Emirati citizens will no longer need a visa as of 5:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. Gulf Standard Time) on June 5, 2018, to travel to Canada for short stays (normally for up to six months) for business, to visit family and friends or for tourism.
However, Emirati citizens, similar to other visa-exempt travellers, will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through a Canadian airport. The eTA allows Canadian officials to screen travellers for admissibility before they board their flight to Canada. Emiratis will be able to apply online for an eTAafter 5:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. Gulf Standard Time) on June 5.
“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.”
– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
The UAE passport is the greatest climber in Henley passport rankings and ranks first in MENA region. The UAE Government signed visa waiver agreements with 8 countries in 2018 alone – China, Ireland, Burkina Faso, Uruguay, Guinea, Tonga, Benin, and Honduras, leading to greater travel freedom to UAE citizens. The UAE passport is 23rd powerful passport in the world in Henley 2018 passport rankings with visa free access to 154 countries.
Source: Government of Canada
