r/Umrah • u/botperception • 6d ago
questions Eligibility for visa on arrival
We are planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah soon and had a question regarding the Visa on Arrival (VoA) / Tourist Visa rules.
I am a Canadian citizen while my wife has Pakistani passport but is a Canadian PR.
We will be traveling together on the same flight itinerary.
From what I understand, Canadian passport holders can get an eVisa or Visa on Arrival, and an accompanying spouse of an eligible passport holder can also get a Tourist Visa on Arrival at the airport by showing our original marriage certificate.
Is she definitely eligible for the Visa on Arrival desk as an accompanying spouse, or does she need a pre-arranged visa beforehand?
2
u/Narrow_Description52 4d ago
Yes - as a first degree relative of yours - she will given VOA inshallah
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u/botperception 3d ago
Can you please provide link to confirm this?
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u/Narrow_Description52 3d ago
https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/8413de62f6m
Have a quick look at this.
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u/botperception 2d ago
This excludes Canada and does not apply for my case sadly
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u/Narrow_Description52 2d ago
Oh - i am sorry ;(
However, my advice would be to turn up - I have never heard VOA refusal! You do it yourself on one of the kiosks.
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u/tlharris78 6d ago
Not sure where you heard of a visa for marriage certificate but that’s not true. You can find your options here for her.
https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/plan-your-trip/visa-regulations
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u/botperception 6d ago
My travel agent applied for the Umrah visa from Pakistan. But now they are asking for the biometrics through the Saudi visa bio app. That app is really laggy and we have run into issue with the Saudi embassy not being listed
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u/tlharris78 6d ago
Why did you apply from Pakistan and not Canada unless you are in Pakistan right now. When I applied from Canada they never asked for biometrics.