Canada Visit Visa from Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Transparent, published pricing. Fully remote via WhatsApp, no office visit required. Tourist and business visa applications (with invitation letter) for Dubai and Abu Dhabi residents. We do not process Canada work visa applications.
In short
A Canada visitor visa is a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). UAE residents apply online to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), then give biometrics in person at the VFS Global centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. It is a different system from Schengen: the decision is made by an IRCC officer on your written file, there is no country-of-most-nights rule, and there is no interview.
Al Tareeq Al Lamea's service fee is separate from the government charges. IRCC charges a visa fee and a separate biometrics fee, both paid online to the Canadian government, around CAD 100 and CAD 85 per person at current 2026 rates and subject to change, with a family cap on biometrics. Our service fees are AED 950, AED 1,400 or AED 2,500 depending on how fast you need the appointment, or AED 650 per person for 2 or more applicants travelling together (Couple & Family).
Required documents: a passport valid for your trip, your Emirates ID and UAE residence visa, a recent photo to IRCC specification, proof of funds such as personal bank statements for the last few months, a letter from your employer confirming your job, salary and approved leave (or a trade licence if self-employed), a clear purpose of travel with a realistic day-by-day itinerary, proof of ties to the UAE or your home country, and your travel history. If you are visiting someone, an invitation letter and their status in Canada. A business trip also needs an invitation letter from the host company.
Canada looks closely at two things, and both must be solid: whether the officer is satisfied you will return to the UAE at the end of your stay, and whether the officer is satisfied the trip is genuinely for tourism or business. A weak or unrealistic itinerary undermines the second one, which is why we put your plan into a coherent, workable order before it is submitted. Canada also keeps a permanent application number for every applicant: if you have been refused before, you must enter the number from your refusal letter on the new form, a mandatory field with no Schengen equivalent. Canada files are large and examined in detail, so a previous refusal, whether you applied alone or through another agency, is best handled by rebuilding the file properly. If someone else pays for your trip, it is their bank statements and proof of employment that must show they can cover your costs.
Processing is not a fixed period: it commonly runs 30 to 60 days and can be longer, especially if IRCC asks for additional documents partway through. The decision comes to you online, by email and in your IRCC account, not through VFS. Apply as early as you can and do not book flights until the visa is issued.
Canada has no interview. Your file is your interview.
We build it so every document answers the same questions: why you travel, when, and why you come back.
How we help
- We understand your situation.Alone, as a couple or with family, your timing, your finances, your travel history, your residence status: each profile raises different questions.
- We explain it for you.Often a detailed 3 to 4 page cover letter that answers the officer's questions before they are asked: why this trip, why now, and what brings you back to the UAE.
- We make it all line up.Often dozens of supporting documents that must all be consistent. We review them line by line and fix inconsistencies before you submit.
- Free eligibility check before you payFirst application or after a refusal, same price.
Our service fee, published upfront
These packages cover your application preparation, the review of your documents and your appointment booking. The Canadian government's fees are separate and paid at exact cost (step 3 below). Canada files are large: often a detailed 3 to 4 page cover letter and dozens of supporting documents that must all be consistent. Faster packages put more of our team's time on your file first, which is why they cost more. IRCC's decision is always theirs to make, not ours.
Travelling together
Couple & Family
Best for 2 or more applicants travelling together
Our fee, per person, from 2 applicants: AED 300 less than Standard. Launch price, valid until 31 December 2026.
+ IRCC fees AED 270 to 500 = AED 920 to 1,150 per person
2 people: AED 1,300 · 3 people: AED 1,950 · 4 people: AED 2,600 (our fee)
- Everything in Standard, for each applicant
- Same timing as Standard: appointment within about a month
- One file, one contact, one checklist
- We request appointments together, for the same trip
- Faster options available on request
Available for 2 or more applicants travelling together on the same trip and destination. Everyone in the group pays the Couple & Family price, the first person included.
Applying alone
Standard
Best if you apply alone and your date is flexible
Our fee. Appointment within 1 month.
+ IRCC fees AED 270 to 500 = AED 1,220 to 1,450 in total
- IMM 5257 application form completion
- Personalised cover letter built around your profile: who travels, why, and what brings you back to the UAE
- Line-by-line review of your finances, supporting documents and travel history (bank statements, payslips, past trips), so every entry is properly justified
- Document checklist tailored to your profile
- VFS appointment booked once your application is ready
Priority
Best once your travel date is set
Our fee. Appointment within 15 days.
+ IRCC fees AED 270 to 500 = AED 1,670 to 1,900 in total
- Everything in Standard
- Your file goes first in our queue
- Earlier appointment window secured
Express
Best if you need to fly soon
Our fee. Appointment within 5 days.
+ IRCC fees AED 270 to 500 = AED 2,770 to 3,000 in total
- Everything in Priority
- Our fastest handling and appointment booking
Appointment guarantee
If we cannot secure your appointment within the timeframe of your package, you receive a full refund of our service fee. It applies to every package above, Couple & Family included.
The timeframe starts once your file is complete and your application is ready. IRCC’s decision is always theirs to make, and government fees are paid to the authority, not to us. Please do not book flights until your visa is issued. Full terms apply, see altrq.com/terms.
Your steps, in order
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Step 1
Free eligibility check
Tell us about your trip and your situation. We tell you honestly whether to apply now and what to prepare. It works the same for a first application or after a refusal, at the same price.
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Step 2
Send your questionnaire and documents
We send you a short questionnaire and the list of documents for your situation. Once we have your answers and everything on the list, we prepare and submit your online application: the IMM 5257 form, a personalised cover letter and a line-by-line review of your finances, documents and travel history.
Send everything as early as you can, ideally the same day or the next. Your application can only start once your file is complete, and your appointment (and the timeline of your package) can only be booked once your application is ready.
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Mandatory · Paid to IRCC · Not our feeStep 3
Pay the Canadian government fees
AED 270
per person (CAD 100) for the visitor visa
- Visitor visa, per personCAD 100 · about AED 270
- Biometrics, per personCAD 85 · about AED 230
- Biometrics, spouse or partner and dependent children (maximum)CAD 170 · about AED 460
Pay them yourself, or let us pay them for you: same amount, at exact cost, with no extra fee. We can also send you the payment link. Biometrics are valid for 10 years, even after a refusal, and are not repeated or paid again. The biometrics fee covers collecting your fingerprints and photo, and moving your documents between IRCC and the centre where you gave them.
Rates are set by IRCC and can change without notice. Optional VFS extras (Prime Time appointment, Premium Lounge) are paid to VFS if you want them: price set by VFS and confirmed when you book.
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Step 4
Your appointment at VFS
After you apply and the biometrics fee is paid, IRCC sends an instruction letter, and you have 30 days from the time you receive the letter to give your biometrics. We book your VFS appointment as soon as your application is ready, and tell you where and when. VFS Global runs the Canada visa application centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and you give your biometrics in person. It is the step that happens before the decision.
On the day, arrive 15 minutes early and attend yourself: nobody can go in your place. Bring your valid passport with at least 2 blank pages on both sides, your printed biometric instruction letter (BIL), the VFS consent form and your supporting documents, originals and copies. Children under 14 do not need to attend, and children under 18 come with an adult. Sources: VFS Global, what happens at the centre and IRCC, where to give your biometrics.
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Step 5
Decision, online
The decision comes online, in your IRCC account and by email, not through VFS. It commonly takes 30 to 60 days, and it can take longer, especially if IRCC asks for additional documents. Canada processing cannot be sped up.
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Step 6
After approval: your passport
If your visa is approved, IRCC puts a passport request letter in your account. You then take your passport to VFS, following the instructions in the letter, and the visa is placed in it. Plan to leave your passport there for a few days, then collect it from VFS when it is ready.
Bring the passport request letter from IRCC, one VFS consent form per application, and anything else the letter asks for. There is no VFS charge if you go to the same centre where you gave your biometrics (and have not already sent other documents); otherwise VFS charges a package transmission fee of AED 83.50, VAT included. Source: VFS Global, passport submission.
What actually matters for your file
Officers spend most of their time on four things: your financial proof, a well-built cover letter, proof of employment, and evidence of your ties to the UAE, the reasons you're expected to return. Get these right and the rest of the file falls into place.
On ties specifically, more is better: property in your name, your own business, close family in the UAE, children enrolled in school here. We recommend including whatever applies to you, even documents that feel optional, a DEWA bill, your car's Mulkiya, tenancy or title deeds, marriage certificates, a child's school enrollment letter. None of it is strictly required, but each piece answers the officer's real question: is there a good reason you wouldn't just stay in Canada.
The itinerary trap
A refusal often isn't about your finances or your documents, it's about a travel plan that doesn't hold up to a closer look: two cities hundreds of kilometers apart on the same day, for example. It's an easy mistake for a first-time visitor to make, there's no way to know Canada's geography from Dubai, and officers notice it immediately. We check your itinerary for realism before it becomes a reason for refusal.
Visa validity isn't the same as your length of stay
Multiple-entry is actually the default for a Canada visitor visa, valid up to 10 years or until your passport or biometrics expire, whichever comes first, so there's usually nothing extra to request. The officer can still issue a shorter validity or single-entry only, depending on your profile and travel history. And regardless of what your visa says, how long you're allowed to stay on each visit is decided by the border officer when you arrive, typically up to 6 months, not by the visa itself.
Documents required
Valid passport (6+ months) and UAE residence visa (90+ days validity), passport photos, IMM 5257 and IMM 5645/5707 forms, bank statements (at least 6 months), salary certificate or employment letter, travel itinerary or invitation letter for business trips, and biometrics. This covers what matters most for the decision; we'll send you the complete checklist for your case over WhatsApp.
Everything runs through WhatsApp
No office visit needed. Canada has no visa interview: unlike the US, there's no officer asking questions in person. You go to VFS twice: for your biometrics, before the decision (not needed again if you gave them in the last 10 years), and after approval to submit your passport so the visa sticker can be placed in it. The decision itself is made entirely on the paper file you submit. That's exactly why Canada applications are among the most document-heavy we handle, and why we ask for everything upfront rather than piece by piece: once your file is sent, there's no opportunity to explain a gap afterward. Every document you share strengthens your own file, it isn't paperwork for our convenience. Full transparency from the start gives your case manager what they need to prepare it properly and gives you the best possible chance.
Real Canada cases
Anonymised cases shared in online forums and analysed by our team. They are not our clients.
CanadaApprovedA family of three, visa in about a month
Read the caseCanadaApprovedFirst-time applicant, multiple-entry visa
Read the caseCanadaRefusedR179(b): a business owner in the UAE
Read the caseCanadaRefusedA visit to a sick relative
Read the caseCanadaRefusedSponsored by a sibling
Read the caseCanadaRefusedAn undisclosed US refusal
Read the caseFrequently asked
The basics
How long does a Canada visitor visa take from Dubai?
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Our Standard Canada package secures your appointment within about a month, Priority under 15 days and Express under 5 days. After your biometrics, IRCC's decision commonly takes 30 to 60 days, and it can take longer, especially if IRCC asks for additional documents. Canada processing cannot be sped up, so apply as early as you can and do not book flights until the visa is issued.
Can I complete the whole visa process without visiting an office in Dubai?
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Yes. Everything runs through WhatsApp and secure document upload: eligibility screening, document review, and appointment slot reservation. You submit your file and attend your own biometrics appointment in person; we reserve the slot for you in advance. After approval, you submit your passport to VFS so the visa sticker can be placed in it.
Do I need a visa or an eTA for Canada?
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It depends on your nationality. Some travellers need a visit visa. Others need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) when they fly to Canada. You can check the official requirements with the IRCC tool: IRCC – Check if you need a visa or eTA.
Send us your nationality and we will tell you which one applies to you.
Is there an interview for a Canada visitor visa from Dubai?
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No. A Canada visitor visa is decided by an IRCC officer on your written file, with no interview.
That is why every document and every explanation must be in the file before it is submitted: once your file is sent, there is no opportunity to explain a gap afterward. You give your biometrics in person at VFS, but that is not an interview.
First time visiting Canada?
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Most of our Canada clients are first-time visitors. We're building destination guides covering currency, culture, and what to expect, coming soon on our podcast.
Biometrics and VFS
How many days do I have to give my biometrics after IRCC's letter?
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After you apply and the biometrics fee is paid, IRCC sends a biometric instruction letter (BIL). You have 30 days from the time you receive it to give your biometrics.
Book your appointment as soon as the letter arrives to avoid delays. We book your VFS appointment as soon as your application is ready, and tell you where and when.
What do I bring to the VFS biometrics appointment for Canada in Dubai?
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VFS Global runs the Canada visa application centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and an appointment is mandatory. Arrive 15 minutes early and attend yourself: nobody can go in your place.
Bring your valid passport with at least 2 blank pages on both sides, your printed biometric instruction letter (BIL), the VFS consent form and your supporting documents, originals and copies.
Do I need to give my biometrics again if I applied for Canada before?
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Not while they are still valid. Biometrics for a visitor visa are valid for 10 years, even if your previous application was refused, so you do not give them again or pay the biometrics fee again for a new application.
If you are not sure whether yours are still valid, send us the details of your previous application and we will check with you.
Do children have to attend the Canada biometrics appointment?
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Children under 14 do not have to give fingerprints, so they are not required to attend the appointment.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, who cannot be a member of VFS staff, and only one parent or caregiver can go into the centre with a child.
Does VFS charge extra for Canada biometrics in Dubai?
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The biometrics fee you pay to IRCC, CAD 85 per person, covers collecting your fingerprints and photo and moving your documents between IRCC and the visa application centre where you gave them. Booking the appointment is free.
VFS also offers optional extras, such as a Prime Time appointment or the Premium Lounge. They are optional, and VFS sets and confirms their price when you book.
After approval
How do I send my passport to VFS after IRCC approves my Canada visa?
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If your visa is approved, IRCC puts a passport request letter in your IRCC account. You then take your passport to a VFS centre, following the instructions in the letter. Bring the passport request letter, one VFS consent form per application and anything else the letter asks for.
The visa is placed in your passport. Plan to leave it there for a few days, then collect it from VFS when it is ready. You cannot travel to Canada until the visa is in your passport.
Source: VFS Global, passport submission · IRCC, after you apply
How much does VFS charge to submit my passport for a Canada visa?
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If you submit your passport at the same VFS centre where you gave your biometrics, and you have not already sent other documents or a passport for the same application, there is no charge.
Otherwise VFS charges a package transmission fee of AED 83.50 per package, VAT included.
Source: VFS Global, passport submission
Fees and families
How much is the Canada biometrics fee for a family?
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Biometrics cost CAD 85 per person, about AED 230. For a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time, the maximum is CAD 170, about AED 460.
That family maximum is only for a spouse or common-law partner and their dependent children. Friends, siblings or parents applying together each pay CAD 85.
Source: IRCC, fees
Can I pay the IRCC fees through Al Tareeq Al Lamea?
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Yes. You can pay the IRCC visa and biometrics fees yourself, or let us pay them for you: same amount, at exact cost, with no extra fee. We can also send you the payment link.
Our own service fee is separate and published on this page.
Can my whole family apply for a Canada visit visa together?
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Yes. We handle every application in one file, with one contact and one checklist. Our Couple and Family price is AED 650 per person from 2 applicants travelling together on the same trip, instead of AED 950 for Standard. It is a launch price, valid until 31 December 2026.
IRCC's visa fee is CAD 100 per person, and the biometrics fee has a family maximum of CAD 170 for a spouse or partner and dependent children.
Source: IRCC, fees
Your file, refusals and approval
What's the most common reason Canada visa applications get refused?
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The reason cited on the rejection letter, typically issued by IRCC and signed by the Consulate General of Canada's Visa Section, is most often not being convinced of the purpose of the trip and intent to return. It usually comes down to an itinerary that was never checked for realism: a plan with two cities hundreds of kilometers apart on the same day, for example, which a first-time visitor has no way of knowing is impossible. We take the plan you already have in mind, put it in a coherent, workable order, and flag anything that doesn't hold up before it becomes a reason for refusal.
I have a Golden Visa and strong finances, doesn't that guarantee approval?
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No. A Golden Visa, savings, or a strong travel history are all genuinely helpful, but none of them are what the officer is actually deciding on. The real question is intent to return, whether there's enough reason to believe you won't simply stay in Canada, and that's a separate question from whether you can afford the trip. A Golden Visa shows the UAE's confidence in your residency, it doesn't tell a Canadian officer anything about your ties there. What actually helps is tangible, personal evidence of a life to return to: property in your own name, a registered business, children enrolled in school in the UAE, a car registered to you. We build this into every file regardless of how strong the finances already look.
Will a visa refusal from another country affect my Canada application?
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A refusal from another country, the US for example, doesn't automatically affect your Canada application, but it must be declared honestly on your form. What matters most is your own history with Canada specifically: if you've traveled there before and respected the visa conditions, that's a strong positive factor. Not declaring a prior refusal is a far bigger risk than the refusal itself.
I've had a Canada visa refusal before, can you still help?
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Yes. We start by reviewing your rejection letter and your profile before anything else. Most refusals come down to how a file was presented or a gap in the supporting documents, not the underlying eligibility, so if your profile is solid, a past refusal doesn't mean no. We'll give you an honest read: sometimes it makes sense to reapply now, sometimes it's better to strengthen a specific part of your file first. If we agree it's the right time, we move forward together.
Who counts as the sponsor of my trip, and does it change the documents?
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The sponsor is whoever pays for the trip. If you fund it yourself, your own employment and bank documents are what matter. If a family member pays, the proof of funds that counts is theirs: bank statements and proof of employment, with a letter confirming they are covering your costs, and often proof of your relationship. For business travel, the sponsor is normally the company, which provides an invitation letter. We confirm whose documents are needed before your file is prepared.
If a document is missing, is my application rejected?
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Not automatically. IRCC can request additional documents or information during processing. The main consequence is that your decision takes longer, which can affect a trip booked around the published estimate. This is why a complete, well-prepared file matters: it is the best way to keep your application on schedule.
Can I appeal a Canada visit visa refusal?
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There is no standard appeal for a refused Canada visit visa. If your application is refused, you can apply again. We strongly recommend that you first understand why it was refused and correct the issues in your file. Applying again with the same documents usually leads to the same result.
If your visa was refused, send us your refusal letter. We will review it and tell you what to improve before you apply again.
Is there a minimum salary for a Canada visit visa?
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IRCC does not publish a minimum salary or a minimum balance. Your file must be consistent in three ways:
- Stable situation: you are employed or self-employed, and this is clear and documented.
- Bank statements: at least 6 months, in your name, matching your declared situation.
- Enough funds: the money you can access covers the costs of your trip.
Source: IRCC – Apply for a visitor visa
Our service
Do you help with Canada work visas?
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No, we handle visitor and business (with invitation letter) visa applications only, not work visas.
Do you help with Canada PR (permanent residence) or immigration applications?
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No. We handle visitor and business visit applications only. Permanent residence, Express Entry, and other immigration pathways are a different legal process and need to go through a licensed Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC), not a visit visa service.
Ready to start your Canada visit visa application?
Free, no-obligation eligibility check. Answer a few questions and we'll follow up on WhatsApp.