There is good news for all Emiratis who aspire to go to Canada. From June 5^th onwards, Canada has announced that they are lifting their visa requirements for the UAE citizens. This announcement was made by Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmad Hussen on Monday following a meeting with His Highness Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

This means that, on June 5, as of 1:30 PM UAE time, Emiratis who are travelling to Canada for short stays that involve business or to just visit their family members will not require a visa to make the trip. The short stay has been clearly stated for only up to 6 months.  The Canadian government issued a press release earlier that said the UAE had met the criteria to enter Canada without a visa.

However, the UAE citizens will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) that is quite similar to the US Esta, to fly or to transit through a Canadian airport, which they can apply anytime online. Emiratis must continue to have their visa until June 5^th, while those Emiratis who seek to study or work in Canada temporarily will still need a work permit even after June 5^th.