Visa or eTA?
Saudi citizens need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. For everyone else living in Saudi Arabia, it depends on your passport, not your residence:
| Your passport | What you need to fly to Canada |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates, Qatar | An eTA (electronic travel authorization), not a visitor visa |
| Philippines | A visitor visa, or an eTA if you've held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa, and you're flying |
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal | A visitor visa |
| Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon | A visitor visa |
| Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain | A visitor visa |
Based on IRCC's entry requirements by country, checked October 30, 2026. Always confirm with IRCC's own tool before you apply.
Living in Saudi Arabia on a residence permit
Saudi Arabia has one of the larger expat communities in the Gulf, and many residents travel to Canada for family visits and study. Your Iqama is the key document showing your status and employer, so make sure it's valid well beyond your trip.
The officer is deciding whether you'll leave Canada at the end of your visit. For someone living in Saudi Arabia, that means showing both your settled life there and your ties to your country of citizenship.
Documents that carry weight
- Your passport and your Iqama (residence permit), valid well beyond your trip.
- An employer letter: role, salary, start date, approved leave, and that your job continues.
- Bank statements from your Saudi Arabia account showing regular salary and savings.
- Your lease or proof of home, and family details if your family lives with you.
- Evidence of ties in your home country, and copies of previous visas and travel.
- A clear trip plan, and an invitation letter if you're staying with family or friends.
Fees and biometrics
You apply online. The visitor visa fee starts at CAD $100 and most applicants pay CAD $85 for biometrics, given at a Canada Visa Application Centre. Use IRCC's visa application centre finder for current locations serving Riyadh, Jeddah or the Eastern Province.
Processing times from Saudi Arabia
IRCC currently estimates 46 days for visitor visa applications from Saudi Arabia (October 29, 2026), not including biometrics.
| Applying from | Visitor visa | Super Visa | Study permit | Work permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 46 days | 92 days | 4 weeks | 5 weeks |
IRCC published times, updated October 29, 2026. They refresh automatically from my wait-times tracker.
Read next
These guides were written for the UAE, but the same principles apply in Saudi Arabia:
- The full visitor visa guide for Gulf residents
- What to do after a refusal
- How your residence status affects the decision
- Super Visa for parents living in the Gulf
Frequently asked questions
Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Canada?
Saudi citizens need a visitor visa to travel to Canada. This is based on IRCC's entry requirements by country.
Can I apply for a Canadian visitor visa while living in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Many people apply from Saudi Arabia on a residence permit. Include your Iqama (residence permit), employer letter and evidence of ties to your home country.
How long does a Canadian visitor visa take from Saudi Arabia?
IRCC publishes a processing time for applications from Saudi Arabia that changes regularly. This page shows the latest figure automatically, and biometrics time is extra.
Applying from the Gulf? Let's talk.
A free 15-minute call, no obligation. I'll give you an honest read on your situation before you spend anything, including whether you need help at all.
This guide is general information based on IRCC's published rules as of October 30, 2026. It isn't legal advice and doesn't assess any individual case. Rules, fees and processing times change, so please confirm current requirements on IRCC.ca.