[cindyh]

I have some relatives coming to visit and I'm wondering if it is easier for me to sponsor them to obtain the visa or if I should just get their airline / hotel to sponsor them? I have a UAE residents card. I'm from Canada.

Thanks!

Cindy

 

[dizzyizzy]

I recently did this for a friend who came from Mexico and is such a hassle to be honest, especially if it's a few of them! If they can arrange it through Emirates or a hotel it would be much better.

 

[Guest]

I recently did this for a friend who came from Mexico and is such a hassle to be honest, especially if it's a few of them! If they can arrange it through Emirates or a hotel it would be much better.

Yeah, I agree. If they're flying Emirates, once the flight is booked, they can do it online & they can pick up the visa at the airport when they arrive. It's quite easy, and it's also a lot cheaper to do it that way, about $70 CDN I think

 

[zin]

A friend of mine did it via Emirates, cost him 60 euros for a 60 day visa.

 

[indoMLA]

For those of you getting it through Emirates, is it a multiple entry visa or single entry? How long is the visa for? I am interested as I have friends from Canada and they say that the longest visa cost ~$1,000USD.

I did not know that Emirates Airlines charges for it... I was told that if you book the flight with Emirates, then they will get the visa for you free of charge, guess that is not the case.

 

[Guest]

For those of you getting it through Emirates, is it a multiple entry visa or single entry? How long is the visa for? I am interested as I have friends from Canada and they say that the longest visa cost ~$1,000USD.

I did not know that Emirates Airlines charges for it... I was told that if you book the flight with Emirates, then they will get the visa for you free of charge, guess that is not the case.

Yes, Emirates definitely charges for a visa. It's good for 30 days, and I believe it's single entry (not 100% sure though)

I think the $1000 visa you mention is for 6 months. It's multiple entry, but I believe the maximum stay in the UAE is 14 days, i.e., you would have to leave the country for a specified time (I think it's maybe 48 hours, but again not 100% sure) and then return. Not really a practical option as it would cost money airfare, hotels, etc. to leave the country & then come back in

 

[Guest]

I just looked it up on the UAE embassy site and yes, it's a single entry visa

BTW - @OP - Etihad can also sponsor visas, but they and Emirates are the only airlines. If they are flying via another airline, they will have to get their visas another way.

They can also get them via the embassy in Ottawa, but it's significantly more expensive - around $250 CAD

This is all thanks to Stephen Harper and Air Canada