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Your Dubai entry route depends on your passport, not where you live. This guide covers Canadian passport holders and other nationals residing in Canada.
Written by Martin Muthugumi
Quick answers,
Canadian nationals receive a 90-day multiple-entry visa on arrival at any UAE airport. No prepaid visa, no application, no fee. Your passport is stamped on arrival.
Source: ICP / GDRFA, 2026A Canadian residency permit does not grant you a UAE on-arrival visa automatically. Selected nationalities holding a valid Canadian residency permit qualify for a paid on-arrival visa at the airport. Others must apply for a tourist visa in advance.
Source: ICP on-arrival eligibility, 2026| Detail | What it means |
|---|---|
| Visa type | 90-day multiple-entry on arrival |
| Stay permitted | Up to 90 days total within a 6-month window from first arrival |
| Cost | Free: issued by UAE immigration at the airport |
| Application needed | None. Present your Canadian passport at UAE immigration. |
| Passport validity | Minimum 6 months remaining from date of travel |
as of October 2024, ICP removed the grace period on UAE tourist visas. Overstay fines begin from the first day after expiry. Exit or extend before your stamp expires.
Apply for a UAE tourist visa extension from inside the country before your on-arrival stamp expires.
Exit the UAE and return for a fresh on-arrival stamp. Most visitors in Dubai use the Oman border crossing for this.
Once your on-arrival days are used, apply for a UAE tourist visit visa through a licensed sponsor. Available in 30 or 60 days.
If you live in Canada but hold a passport from a different country, your Dubai visa route is determined by your passport nationality, not your Canadian residency.
If your passport is from one of the nationalities below AND you hold a valid Canadian residency permit with at least 6 months remaining validity, you qualify for a paid UAE on-arrival visa at the airport.
Eligible nationalities:
Qualifying document: a valid Canadian residency permit with at least 6 months remaining validity.
Source: ICP on-arrival eligibility table| On-arrival option | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry on arrival | 14 days | USD 63 |
| Single entry on arrival | 60 days | USD 141.36 |
These fees are paid at the UAE airport on arrival. No advance application is needed if you hold the qualifying residency permit above.
All eligible nationalities living in Canada can also apply for a UAE tourist visa directly through licensed tour operators or airlines, without using the residency permit route. A 30-day or 60-day tourist visa is available.
Nationalities not listed above who live in Canada must use this route. The on-arrival option with a residency permit is not available to them.
No. Canadian passport holders receive a 90-day multiple-entry visa on arrival in Dubai. No prepaid visa is required. Your passport is stamped at the airport and the visa is valid for up to 90 days total within a 6-month window from first arrival.
Yes, if you hold a valid Canadian residency permit with at least 6 months remaining validity. Indian nationals with this document can receive a 14-day or 60-day UAE on-arrival visa at the airport. The 14-day single entry costs USD 63. The 60-day single entry costs USD 141.36. Source: ICP.
India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. Eligible nationals must hold a valid Canadian residency permit with at least 6 months remaining validity. Source: ICP on-arrival eligibility rules.
Nationals living in Canada who do not qualify for the residency-based on-arrival visa can apply directly for a UAE tourist visit visa through licensed tour operators or airlines. A 30-day or 60-day tourist visa is available through this route.
Options include applying for a UAE tourist visa extension before the on-arrival stamp expires, exiting the UAE and re-entering via the Oman border for a fresh stamp, or applying for a sponsored tourist visit visa through a licensed agency.
No. As of October 2024, ICP removed the grace period on UAE tourist visas. Overstay fines begin from the first day after the stamp expires. Canadian nationals must exit or extend before the on-arrival period ends.
