Residency
Saudi residency visa from Canada
Do you need to enter Saudi Arabia to establish your residency (iqama)? The residency visa starts there: the visa authorization is issued in Saudi Arabia. Here, Voyages Classy Travel, an authorized agent of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada and based in Montréal since 2005, checks your file, submits it to the Embassy and follows up on it, wherever you live in the country.
Last verified: October 7, 2026
Who is the Saudi residency visa for?
This visa is the entry visa for Saudi residency (iqama). It is for people living in Canada for whom a residency visa authorization has been issued in Saudi Arabia. The file also relies on a sponsor who holds a valid Saudi iqama and on documents that prove your relationship to that sponsor.
Adults and children can both be concerned: the number of photos, for example, is not the same for an adult and for a child. If you are not sure this is the right visa, call us: before you start, we check with you which visa fits your situation.
Documents to prepare
Your file brings together documents that come from Saudi Arabia, such as the visa authorization and the sponsor’s details (their iqama and the Absher information required for the application), and documents you provide in Canada: the completed and signed application form, the personal photos, your original passport (normally plan for at least six months of validity), proof of relationship, the travel itinerary (departure and return flight reservations), the police clearance certificate and the signed notification paper. Some documents apply only to certain files: proof of Canadian status, if you are not a Canadian citizen; the medical examination, when required, according to the current requirements of the Saudi authorities (Wafid); and vaccination records and additional documents, when applicable. Here is the basic list.
Requirements
- Visa Application Form — A completed and signed application for each applicant.
- Personal Photos — Two photographs for an adult, one photograph for a child.
- Saudi Visa Authorization (Visa Slip) — The residency visa authorization issued in Saudi Arabia.
- Sponsor Iqama — A copy of the sponsor's valid Saudi iqama.
- Sponsor Absher Information — The sponsor information or documentation from Absher required for the application.
- Proof of Relationship — Official relationship documents, such as a birth certificate, a marriage certificate or another government-issued document.
- Original Passport — The physical original passport. Normally plan for at least six months of validity.
- Proof of Canadian Status — Non-Canadian Citizens Only — For applicants who are not Canadian citizens: a valid Canadian immigration-status document, such as a Permanent Resident Card, work permit or study permit.
- Police Clearance Certificate — An original police report or an accepted electronic verification, normally issued within the previous three months.
- Notification Paper — Completed and signed by the applicant.
- Medical Examination — When Required — Applicants subject to the Saudi work or residency medical requirements provide the medical examination that applies under the current requirements of the Saudi authorities (Wafid).
- Vaccination Records — When Applicable — Vaccination records may be required for children or for applicants covered by the medical-examination exemption rules.
- Additional Documents — When Applicable — Additional documents may be requested depending on nationality, age, sponsor, family situation and the instructions attached to the Saudi authorization.
Questions about your documents?
This list can change: we confirm the exact documents for your file before you send anything.
Who decides, and when
The visa is issued at the discretion of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. No agency can promise a date or a decision, and we do not publish timelines: each file is examined on its own.
What we control is the quality of the file: complete, consistent and submitted the way it is expected. A complete file from the start avoids back-and-forth. As a precaution, do not buy a non-refundable ticket before you have your visa.
Anywhere in Canada, by mail
Our clients come from Montréal, Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, Toronto, the rest of Ontario and anywhere else in Canada: you can send us your documents by mail. We first tell you what to send and how your documents will come back to you.
Our office is at 150, boulevard Côte-Vertu Ouest, bureau 201, Montréal (Québec) H4N 1C6. We serve you in French, English and Arabic.
Saudi residency visa: frequently asked questions
What is the residency visa authorization, and who obtains it?
It is the document issued in Saudi Arabia that authorizes your residency visa. It is obtained there, not in Canada. Once you have it, we prepare and submit your file here, in Canada.
Can I apply if I am not a Canadian citizen?
Yes, from Canada, as long as you provide proof of your status in Canada: a valid document such as a Permanent Resident Card, a work permit or a study permit. We confirm which document fits your situation.
Do I have to live in Quebec?
No. Our visa service covers all of Canada: you send us your documents by mail, and we follow your file with you by phone or email.
Do I have to go through an agent?
Yes. All applicants must process their visa through an approved agent. Voyages Classy Travel is an authorized agent of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada.
How is it different from the newborn residency visa?
The newborn residency visa is for children under one year of age. It has its own document list and its own page. If you are unsure which visa fits your situation, we guide you.
Can you guarantee that the visa will be granted?
No. Nobody can: the decision belongs to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Our role is to submit a complete, compliant file so that a missing document doesn’t hold you up.
Other Saudi visa services
Personal guidance
Let’s talk about your residency visa
Call us at 514-448-0788 or send an inquiry online. We check your authorization, tell you which documents to prepare and take care of the rest with you.