Canadian citizens can apply for a tourist visa, business visa, job visa, student visa, hajj visa, and umrah visa. In addition to completing the application process online, the applicant also receives their e-visa by email.
It should be mentioned that the applicant does not need sponsorship for a tourist visa. For all other types of e-visas, the applicant needs to be sponsored by a tour operator, a Saudi citizen, or an organisation. The duration of the visa is important because exceeding it could lead to future travel restrictions or expensive fines. Until the fine is paid, the passenger won’t be permitted to exit KSA.
New Rules for performing Umrah in 2023
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced new guidelines for foreign pilgrims planning to conduct Umrah in 2022:
- If they can show they were not exposed to the virus or had no contact with an infected person, pilgrims who have not had the Covid-19 vaccination are still permitted to undertake the Umrah.
- People from the previously affected nations (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, United Republic of Comoros, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan), where flights were halted, are now able to travel to Saudi Arabia and perform the Umrah.
- A PCR or quick antigen test is no longer required from pilgrims upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.
- Following their entry into Saudi Arabia, pilgrims are no longer needed to quarantine.
- Public spaces no longer require the use of masks or social separation. The Two Holy Mosques and all other mosques across the nation are no exception to this social segregation (masks are still required indoors).
- The Umrah permit can now be reserved in advance through either the Tawakkalna or Umrahna applications.
- Following their arrival, pilgrims are no longer obliged to sign up on the Muqeem app. To reflect their immunisation status on their Tawakkalna app, persons who have finished all the necessary vaccine processes are urged to register.
