According to information provided by World Travel and Tourism, over 1.1 million jobs in Saudi Arabia were provided by the travel and tourism sector in 2018. This means that one in every twelve jobs in the country was due to this sector.
Saudi Arabia is home to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places for Islam. It is a popular pilgrimage destination for millions of Muslims across the globe. But, Saudi Arabia has now also become a popular destination for other types of tourists, with the launch of its e-visa. The push towards tourism is a result of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reform program to prepare the Saudi economy for the post crude oil era.
But, to visit the kingdom, you first need to get a visa.
E-Visa For Canadian Citizens
To promote tourism in the country, Saudi Arabia now offers e-visa facilities to citizens of 49 countries, one of them being Canada. The electronic visa allows citizens of Canada to stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days, within a one-year period. You can enter the kingdom multiple times during this one-year period. With, an e-visa, you are no longer required to personally visit the embassy or consulate to present your original documents and complete the visa application process.
Canadian citizens traveling to Saudi Arabia with minors need to apply for the e-visa on behalf of their children.
Documents Required For Saudi Arabia E-Visa
The documents required for a Saudi Arabia visa for citizens of Canada are:
VALID PASSPORT
You must have a Canadian passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your departure from the kingdom. The passport must have a minimum of two consecutive blank pages.
EMAIL ADDRESS
Your e-visa will be sent to you, once approved, by means of an email. So, it is important for you to have a functional email address.
PHOTOGRAPH
You need to provide a digital copy of your passport-sized colour photograph. The photograph must be taken against a white background and must have your full face clearly visible in it.
MEANS OF PAYMENT
You need to pay the visa fee online, using a credit or debit card.
How To Apply For An E-Visa For Saudi Arabia?
The process of getting an e-visa can be completed in a few simple steps:
VISIT THE SAUDI ARABIAN VISA WEBSITE
The first step is to visit the official visa website and create an account for yourself. Since they are several fake sites, be careful to visit only the official website.
CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
To create your account, you will need to fill in your personal details, such as your full name, phone number and email address. You also need to choose your passport type and the country of issuance. You will receive a verification link on your email address once you have created your account. Click this link to activate your account.
FILL THE APPLICATION FORM
Once your account is activated, you can start filling the visa application form. It is important that you provide accurate information in this form, since mistakes can lead delays and even denial of visa. You will need to provide your personal details on the form, such as your first name, last name, gender, address, date of birth, etc. You also need to fill in details about your travel plans, passport, occupation, marital status, place of accommodation, etc.
Once you have filled these details, upload the colour photograph. The accepted formats for the photograph are .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif and .bmp. The dimensions should be 200×200 pixels and size between 3 KB and 100 KB.
PAY THE VISA FREE
The last step of the process is to pay the visa fee. The total payable amount is SAR 463.44 and can be paid by means of a debit or credit card. This fee includes 5% VAT, the transaction fee and the medical insurance fee. In case you encounter a health emergency during your stay in Saudi Arabia, this health insurance covers you up to SAR 100,000 in healthcare costs.
Safety And Travel Advisory For Canadian Citizens
- Alcohol and pork are forbidden in Saudi Arabia. However, in some residential communities with expats, things are a bit more lenient.
- Photography is also a sensitive topic in the kingdom. It is best to avoid clicking pictures of government structures, such as ministry buildings, airports and military facilities.
- Men and women are both required to dress modestly when in public. Women should keep their shoulders and knees covered at all times.
- You should carry your personal identification at all times while in Saudi Arabia. It is common to be asked for identification, especially at checkpoints.
- Make sure you do not have any inappropriate text or images on your clothes.
The visa process for citizens of Canada has become a whole lot simpler. However, if you are a first-time applicant or are unsure of the process, it is best to take the help of an experienced agency, such as Rapid Visa. We will ensure that you have the most hassle-free experience of getting a visa.
