Our visit to the UAE was the first country which we had to obtain an entry visa. It is still a relatively new process for Canadians, being in effect as of Jan 2011. Unfortunately, Canada and the UAE had a fallout over the Emirati airlines wanting extra landing rights within Canada. It was not granted and the reaction was to impose entry visas on Canadians amongst other things (see Wiki for more info).
The process of obtaining a visa (either business or tourist) wasn't as straight forward as one might think. There is some info on the Canadian-UAE embassy website or on Emirates website, but it seemed that we just had to give it a go before it would all make sense. I was especially concerned since our friend Carla from Canada was visiting and we had plans to visit Dubai for a week.
We had been through the border crossing Al Ain/Al Buraimi on route to Abu Dhabi a month before, and were forewarned that each crossing is different. At least for us, having a labor card (resident card) in Oman makes it slightly simpler as we can apply for the visa at the border and do not require pre-approval. However, we did have some questioning since Adam's resident card listed no job and our last names are different. I guess this is why one should carry your marriage certificate while travelling in the GCCs.
Carla applied for a tourist visa through Visa Connections (www.ivpsc.com). She had intended to get her visa through the Emirates airline, but because she had a connection flight from Dubai to Muscat, they did not allow her to get the visa through them! Even after a lengthy discussion with customer service. It completely defeated the purpose of flying with Emirates as there is plenty of cheaper alternatives to Dubai. Her flight was Calgary-Seattle-Dubai-Muscat; (then we drove to Dubai, Dubai-Seattle-Calgary). The tourist visa is good for 30 days, single entry, and is $250. The difference with Visa connections versus getting it through the embassy is 15 business days vs. 20 days + shipping/return to Ottawa, but there is a $125 fee and they had an office in Calgary to save shipping time. Luckily, she got it 1-2 days before leaving!
There are 2 border crossing options when travelling from Oman to Dubai - Khatmat or Hatta. We decided to take Khatmat since there was only 1 crossing, which seemed simpler and it was only 20 km further. At Hatta, you cross into UAE, then back into Oman, then back into UAE. We decided to minimize the number of crossings... Keep it mind there are very few signs, multiple stops of people waving you through or not, and little communication so the crossings are nothing but anxiety.
We arrived at the Oman crossing and got a mixed hand signal and proceeded to the UAE crossing without getting our Oman exit stamp (yes, there are 2 separate stations anywhere from 2 to 20 km apart). We showed the UAE border agent our passports, first thing - "These are Canadian passports, you cannot enter." So then we tried to explain that we have our GCC resident card, which seemed to spark some reconsideration. "But your husband has no job, you can go, he cannot." Uhh, well that's no good either. Meanwhile Carla was digging out her visa to accompany her passport. The agent looked at me and Carla -" you sisters?". No..."she cannot go." Carla handed over the visa form while me and Adam explained that we were allowed entry at the Al Buraimi crossing (we didn't bring the marriage cert. this time, an oversight on our part). Some internal discussions ensued while we waited outside the window in the blistering sun. Then we were asked to come inside, not knowing if more questioning was next. We saw the eye scanning station and they motioned us to do the scan. Thank goodness, they were letting us in! $400 CAD for a tourist visa and $200 Dirham (~$ 57 CAD) for a business visa + $10 Dirham for what we don't know! That's the thing about the crossings, they ask for money, and we just hand it over. There is not 1 place where the fees are stated, we didn't pay the 10 Dhs last time. Just when you think you're go to go, there is another station where you stop and they give you a small white piece of paper that only has arabic writing. Sometimes they ask for the vehicle registration, other times not. Then you drive another 100m where you had over the white piece of paper to the guard. We guessed it was to know how many people were it the car?
Since we did not have the Oman exit stamp, we decided to ask the UAE agent if it was needed. They definitely knew the importance of that, they said we needed to go back to the Oman crossing to get it. Good thing these 2 stations were only 2km apart ;). So we went back and all got exit stamps. Adam got questioned again about not having a job...
On our way back to Muscat from Dubai, we took the Hatta crossing. Luckily the 2 of the 3 border crossing were just check stops, we didn't have to even show passports. It was busier than the Khatmat crossing and they seemed to handle the extra traffic better. We didn't get charged this time to cancel our visa, last time at Al Buraimi, we had to pay $60 CAD, for what we could only guess was a fee to cancel the visa early.
Next time, we will try to fly and see how that experience compares. I'm guessing it too will be slightly different.
The process of obtaining a visa (either business or tourist) wasn't as straight forward as one might think. There is some info on the Canadian-UAE embassy website or on Emirates website, but it seemed that we just had to give it a go before it would all make sense. I was especially concerned since our friend Carla from Canada was visiting and we had plans to visit Dubai for a week.
We had been through the border crossing Al Ain/Al Buraimi on route to Abu Dhabi a month before, and were forewarned that each crossing is different. At least for us, having a labor card (resident card) in Oman makes it slightly simpler as we can apply for the visa at the border and do not require pre-approval. However, we did have some questioning since Adam's resident card listed no job and our last names are different. I guess this is why one should carry your marriage certificate while travelling in the GCCs.
Carla applied for a tourist visa through Visa Connections (www.ivpsc.com). She had intended to get her visa through the Emirates airline, but because she had a connection flight from Dubai to Muscat, they did not allow her to get the visa through them! Even after a lengthy discussion with customer service. It completely defeated the purpose of flying with Emirates as there is plenty of cheaper alternatives to Dubai. Her flight was Calgary-Seattle-Dubai-Muscat; (then we drove to Dubai, Dubai-Seattle-Calgary). The tourist visa is good for 30 days, single entry, and is $250. The difference with Visa connections versus getting it through the embassy is 15 business days vs. 20 days + shipping/return to Ottawa, but there is a $125 fee and they had an office in Calgary to save shipping time. Luckily, she got it 1-2 days before leaving!
There are 2 border crossing options when travelling from Oman to Dubai - Khatmat or Hatta. We decided to take Khatmat since there was only 1 crossing, which seemed simpler and it was only 20 km further. At Hatta, you cross into UAE, then back into Oman, then back into UAE. We decided to minimize the number of crossings... Keep it mind there are very few signs, multiple stops of people waving you through or not, and little communication so the crossings are nothing but anxiety.
We arrived at the Oman crossing and got a mixed hand signal and proceeded to the UAE crossing without getting our Oman exit stamp (yes, there are 2 separate stations anywhere from 2 to 20 km apart). We showed the UAE border agent our passports, first thing - "These are Canadian passports, you cannot enter." So then we tried to explain that we have our GCC resident card, which seemed to spark some reconsideration. "But your husband has no job, you can go, he cannot." Uhh, well that's no good either. Meanwhile Carla was digging out her visa to accompany her passport. The agent looked at me and Carla -" you sisters?". No..."she cannot go." Carla handed over the visa form while me and Adam explained that we were allowed entry at the Al Buraimi crossing (we didn't bring the marriage cert. this time, an oversight on our part). Some internal discussions ensued while we waited outside the window in the blistering sun. Then we were asked to come inside, not knowing if more questioning was next. We saw the eye scanning station and they motioned us to do the scan. Thank goodness, they were letting us in! $400 CAD for a tourist visa and $200 Dirham (~$ 57 CAD) for a business visa + $10 Dirham for what we don't know! That's the thing about the crossings, they ask for money, and we just hand it over. There is not 1 place where the fees are stated, we didn't pay the 10 Dhs last time. Just when you think you're go to go, there is another station where you stop and they give you a small white piece of paper that only has arabic writing. Sometimes they ask for the vehicle registration, other times not. Then you drive another 100m where you had over the white piece of paper to the guard. We guessed it was to know how many people were it the car?
Since we did not have the Oman exit stamp, we decided to ask the UAE agent if it was needed. They definitely knew the importance of that, they said we needed to go back to the Oman crossing to get it. Good thing these 2 stations were only 2km apart ;). So we went back and all got exit stamps. Adam got questioned again about not having a job...
On our way back to Muscat from Dubai, we took the Hatta crossing. Luckily the 2 of the 3 border crossing were just check stops, we didn't have to even show passports. It was busier than the Khatmat crossing and they seemed to handle the extra traffic better. We didn't get charged this time to cancel our visa, last time at Al Buraimi, we had to pay $60 CAD, for what we could only guess was a fee to cancel the visa early.
Next time, we will try to fly and see how that experience compares. I'm guessing it too will be slightly different.
I blogged about this last year.. Abu Dhabi (al Ain crossing) charges you to exit their emirate into Oman. Dubai (Hatta) does not. Khatmat is the border that goes up to Mussandam peninsular (also Oman) and is not regularly used by expats. Canadians who hold a GCC residency may obtain a Visa on Arrival at all UAE ports of entry for OMR 22 (DHs 200) - about $50 each. As a married spouse, holding a valid GCC resident card, you may also enter the UAE as long as you are with your working spouse.
ReplyDeleteCanadians who are not holders of a GCC residence must obtain the UAE visit visa which is very expensive (as you wrote about) - but it's cheaper if you fly with Etihad or Emirates into the UAE and obtain a visa with them. Currently a Canadian wishing to visit Oman (or any other country around here for that matter) and then the UAE can not get these Etihad/Emirates cheap visas, even if you fly with them. You need to fly INTO Abu Dhabi (Etihad) or Dubai (Emirates) to obtain the cheaper visa, and then if you choose to leave the UAE by another flight or drive, then the visa is cancelled - so there is no way around it.
The white piece of paper is indeed the number of people in the car ;) There used to be a RO 2.000 fee levied by Oman at the Hatta border but that was axed last year. In Hatta there are no exit fees either way (from UAE or Oman) but there is now the secondary check-point near Madam where Oman comes back into the UAE - it adds anywhere from 5 minutes to over an hour to a historical 4 hour drive from Muscat to Dubai.
More and more people are choosing Khatmat Milahah crossing to the UAE as it avoids the second checkpoint near Madam in the UAE. Traditionally it's been used by locals and so the immigration staff are not as familiar with expats and the specific peculiarities with Canadians.
Nice write up :)
I forgot to mention that the Visa on Arrival fee for the Al Ain border (Emirate of Abu Dhabi) is actually cheaper than the rest of the emirates - I think it's around Dhs 100, this is offset by the fact that they charge and Exit fee on all passengers (50 Dhs per person). You can enter Al Ain and exit at Hatta to get the best price possible, but they hate cancelling another emirates issued visa, and will sometimes claim it can't be done (total BS but they can be lazy sometimes, or just want to bust your balls).
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