The short answer
Here is the clear answer.
Santa comes after bedtime on Christmas Eve and before Christmas morning. His exact arrival time changes each year and stays a North Pole secret.
There is no single Santa time.
Santa visits the whole world, so he cannot arrive everywhere at the same number on the clock. He follows nighttime across time zones and adjusts for weather, distance, and the safest place to land.
Your stop might be early in his local route or close to morning. Either way, the sleigh team knows where it is going.
Being asleep helps the surprise work.
Santa waits until a home is quiet. Going to bed on time gives him room to finish the delivery without spoiling the surprise or waking anyone.
There is no need to stay up and watch. The best way to help is to get cozy, rest, and let the North Pole team do its work.
How does Santa keep the whole route on time?
The elves prepare the route, the reindeer read the sky, and Santa carries a schedule that updates as he flies. Christmas Eve time stretches when the mission needs one more minute.
Quick North Pole answers
A few more things curious hearts ask
Does Santa come at midnight?
Sometimes, but not always. Santa's arrival time is different for every home and every route.
Will Santa come if I am awake?
Santa waits for a quiet moment, so getting to sleep is the best way to help him keep the surprise.
Does Santa visit before Christmas morning?
Yes. The Christmas Eve mission is finished before the morning celebration begins.