Dubai: Canadian citizens coming to the UAE can now apply for transit and tourist visas through Emirates airline's and Etihad Airways' online visa application tools.
Emirates started issuing visas to Canadian citizens on December 12 on www.emirates.com and has already received "numerous" requests, according to Russell Sheldon, Senior Vice-President of Network Passenger Sales Development.
Customers with a confirmed booking and return ticket on Emirates can apply online for 96-hour transit visas and 30-day visit visas that cost $44 and $57 respectively, he said.
"Normally, visa applicants are required to visit in person or send their passports and other documents to the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit, in order to obtain a visa," said Sheldon. "The Emirates online visa application tool means that Canadian passport holders can apply for UAE visas via the internet, from the comfort of their office or home, without submitting their passports."
Etihad Airways has begun processing online visa requests through their visa partner TT Services on www.ttsuaevisas.com, according to its spokesperson.
The service allowed them to provide a "simple and convenient" option for customers while complying with the UAE's immigration requirements, the spokesperson said.
Starting January 2, all Canadian citizens wishing to come to the UAE must apply for a pre-arranged visa following the escalated political dispute between Canada and the UAE.
Prior to the new rule, Canada was one of 34 countries whose citizens were issued visas upon arrival in the UAE.
Customers with an Etihad Airways ticket can apply for a 90-day visit visa, 30-day tourist visa, 14-day entry permit and 96-hour transit visa. Applicants should allow five to seven days processing time. Visa fees range from $355 to $103 depending on the type.
Edith AbouZeid, 56, a Canadian citizen who visits her daughter in the UAE, said applying online with the carriers would be a "more convenient option" in future since she will come to visit her daughter regardless of the new visa regulations.
But the idea of applying and paying for a visa to begin with is a hassle and adds one more chore on the to-do list, she said.
"The view is that Canada is part of the first world.
"You feel that you no longer have first world status because of this, especially as Canadians we feel like we're not the States, we're better than that," she said.
Although the online application is a "superior process" to the current alternatives, the visa requirement is still a "burden" to Canadian travellers, whether tourists or business people, Bruce Cran, President of Consumers' Association of Canada, said in an e-mail to Gulf News.
"During the recent snow storms in Europe many have called me to say ‘Not much snow in Dubai this week'. We are being deprived of competition to advance the interests of Air Canada — a sad situation," he said.
Embassy's Stance
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Canada has announced that fees for all visas issued by the diplomatic missions of the UAE in various countries around the world — whose nationals are not exempted from applying for visas in advance — are applicable to all countries without exception. The embassy, in a statement issued yesterday, said that the categories of visas and related fees as posted on its website are part a universal visa system which is used by all UAE missions abroad without any exceptions.
Websites for visas
