Starting Tuesday, Canadian passport holders can enjoy visa-free travel to China until the end of 2026, as per an announcement by a spokesperson from China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Sunday. This move signifies a positive turn in Canada’s relationship with the Chinese government.
According to a statement released on the Chinese ministry’s website, Canadian passport holders are now exempt from visa requirements when entering China for purposes such as business, tourism, family or friends visit, exchange programs, and transit, with a stay of up to 30 days. The visa exemption policy will be in effect until December 31, 2026, and also extends to U.K. passport holders.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed the policy change on social media, highlighting that it will facilitate travel, support business interactions, and enhance people-to-people connections between the two countries. The initial discussions about visa-free travel for Canadians to China surfaced in January following a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
A statement from Carney’s office mentioned the president’s commitment to granting visa-free access for Canadians traveling to China, which eventually led to a bilateral agreement between Canada and China. This agreement allowed the entry of tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada in exchange for tariff relief on Canadian agricultural products, particularly canola seeds.
Currently, Canadian tourists entering China are subjected to a cumbersome visa application process and fees of approximately $140. In recent years, China has relaxed visa requirements for several Western countries to boost tourism post the COVID-19 pandemic. During a prolonged diplomatic disagreement, Beijing had imposed visa restrictions on Canadians and limited the number of Chinese tourist groups visiting Canada.
