Most UAE residents need a visitor visa to travel to Canada, and every applicant goes through the same online process with biometrics at a visa centre in the UAE. But your passport can change the route entirely. Some Filipino residents can skip the visa and travel on a CAD 7 electronic authorisation. For everyone else, the visa you receive may be much shorter than it used to be. This page explains what your passport changes.
Checked on 5 October 2026 against Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Sources at the end.
On this page
- What is the same for everyone
- Comparison by nationality
- The eTA route for eligible Filipinos
- How long your visa will last
- Why Canadian visitor visas are refused
- Key points by nationality
- Questions people ask
What is the same for everyone
- You apply online through IRCC and give fingerprints and a photo at a Canada visa application centre in the UAE.
- The visa fee is CAD 100 per person, with a maximum of CAD 500 for a family applying together.
- Biometrics cost CAD 85 per person, with a maximum of CAD 170 for a family. They stay valid for 10 years, so you may not need to give them again.
- Processing time depends on where you apply, not your passport. Check IRCC’s processing time tool and choose the United Arab Emirates.
- The officer decides on the same questions for everyone: the purpose of your visit, your money, and whether you will leave Canada at the end.
The full step-by-step process is in our Canada visitor visa from Dubai guide.
Comparison by nationality
| Passport | What you need to fly to Canada |
|---|---|
| Philippines | An eTA (CAD 7) if you hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years. Otherwise a visitor visa |
| India | Visitor visa |
| Pakistan | Visitor visa |
| Egypt | Visitor visa |
| Bangladesh | Visitor visa |
| Sri Lanka | Visitor visa |
| Nigeria | Visitor visa |
| UAE nationals | An eTA (CAD 7) |
A UAE residence visa does not change which of these applies. Only your passport and, for the eTA route, your US or Canadian visa history do.
The eTA route for eligible Filipinos
Since 2023, Philippine passport holders can travel to Canada by air with an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead of a visa, if they meet one of these conditions:
- You currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, such as a B1/B2 visitor visa, or
- You have held a Canadian visitor visa at any time in the last 10 years.
The eTA costs CAD 7, is applied for online and is often approved within minutes. It is linked to your passport and is valid for up to five years or until your passport expires. No visa centre visit is needed, although IRCC may ask for biometrics in some cases.
- Air travel only. Entering Canada by land or sea, for example from the US by car, still needs a visa.
- Each family member must qualify individually. If your child has no US visa and no previous Canadian visa, the child needs a visitor visa.
- Use the official IRCC site only. Many websites charge far more than CAD 7 for the same eTA.
The same expanded eTA rules apply to several other nationalities, including Thailand, Morocco and, since May 2026, Indonesia and Malaysia. None of the South Asian or African nationalities on this page are eligible.
How long your visa will last
Until mid-2024, Canada usually issued visitor visas valid for up to 10 years, or until the passport expired. That is no longer the default. Officers now decide case by case whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and how long it should last, often matching it to the trip you describe.
- If you plan to visit regularly, say so in your application and explain why, for example family in Canada you visit every year.
- A short visa is not a negative mark. It reflects the trip you applied for.
- A visa cannot be valid beyond your passport’s expiry date or your biometrics’ expiry. Renew a passport close to expiry before applying.
How long you can stay on each visit is decided by the border officer when you arrive. It is usually up to 6 months, and it is separate from how long the visa itself is valid.
Why Canadian visitor visas are refused
Most refusals use the same wording: the officer was not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay. The reasons listed underneath usually point to one of these:
- Ties to your country of residence: job, residence status and family in the UAE.
- Financial situation: funds that do not match the trip, or unexplained large deposits.
- Travel history: no previous travel to countries such as the US, UK or Schengen.
- Purpose of visit: unclear, or not consistent with your situation.
For UAE residents, the strongest evidence is a stable job with an employer letter confirming approved leave, a residence visa valid well beyond the trip, UAE bank statements showing regular salary and savings, and copies of visas you have already used.
If you are refused, do not reapply immediately with the same documents. First request your GCMS notes, the officer’s full notes on your file, through an Access to Information request. They cost CAD 5 and often explain the refusal much more clearly than the letter. Then reapply with evidence that answers the officer’s specific concerns.
Key points by nationality
Filipino passport holders
Check the eTA route first. If you hold a valid US visa, an eTA is cheaper and faster than a visitor visa. If you do not qualify, apply for a visitor visa with the same strong UAE evidence as any other applicant. Household workers travelling with an employer should explain their role and include the employer’s travel details. See also our Schengen guide for Filipino passport holders.
Indian passport holders
Indian nationals file one of the largest volumes of Canadian visitor applications. Many visits are to see family, so include your host’s invitation letter and proof of their status in Canada, but focus the file on your own UAE job and finances. See also our Schengen guide for Indian passport holders.
Pakistani passport holders
Previous travel matters. If you have used UK, US or Schengen visas, include them prominently. A first-time traveller can still be approved, but the UAE evidence must be especially strong. See also our Schengen guide for Pakistani passport holders.
Egyptian passport holders
Documents in Arabic need a certified English or French translation, along with the original. This includes Egyptian birth and marriage certificates used for family applications. See also our Schengen guide for Egyptian passport holders.
Bangladeshi passport holders
Financial evidence is the weak point in many files. If your salary is paid on a payroll card, move it into a bank account in your name and build a clear record before applying. See also our Schengen guide for Bangladeshi passport holders.
Sri Lankan passport holders
Make sure names written with initials on UAE documents are clearly linked to your full passport name, and explain any difference in a letter of explanation uploaded with the application. See also our Schengen guide for Sri Lankan passport holders.
Nigerian passport holders
Canada is not subject to the US travel restrictions that affect Nigerian applicants, so a Canadian visitor visa remains available. Officers often verify documents directly, so every bank statement and employer letter must be genuine and consistent. See also our Schengen guide for Nigerian passport holders.
Questions people ask
Can Filipinos in Dubai go to Canada without a visa?
Yes, by air with a CAD 7 eTA, if they hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years. Otherwise they need a visitor visa.
Why did I get a single-entry Canadian visa?
Since 2024, officers decide the number of entries and validity case by case, often based on the trip you described. It is not a refusal or a penalty. If you need to travel often, explain why in your next application.
How much is a Canada visitor visa from the UAE?
CAD 100 per person plus CAD 85 for biometrics, with family maximums of CAD 500 and CAD 170. The visa centre may add service charges.
Can Nigerians in the UAE still get a Canadian visa?
Yes. The 2026 US travel restrictions do not apply to Canada. Nigerian residents of the UAE apply for a Canadian visitor visa in the normal way.
What should I do after a refusal?
Request your GCMS notes for CAD 5 to see the officer’s reasoning, then reapply with evidence that addresses those specific points.
Related guides
- Canada visitor visa from Dubai: fees, biometrics, steps
- US visitor visa from the UAE by nationality
- UK visitor visa from the UAE by nationality
- Canada PR from the UAE: Express Entry step by step
Sources
- IRCC — Visit Canada: visitor visa and eTA eligibility: canada.ca
- IRCC — Expanded eTA eligibility for travellers from certain countries: canada.ca
- Embassy of Canada to the Philippines — announcement on eTA eligibility, June 2023
- IRCC — Fee list and processing times: canada.ca
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and when IRCC rules change. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com — it gets fixed and logged.