Beijing has lifted visa requirements for Canadian tourists and business travelers, effective Tuesday and lasting at least until the end of the year, following efforts by Prime Minister Mark Carney to improve relations with China.
The move, announced by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reverses a policy that previously required Canadians to undergo a lengthy application process and pay approximately $140 CAD for visas for mainland China. Visas were not previously required for travel to Hong Kong, Macau, or the province of Hainan.
The decision follows a commitment reportedly made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during Prime Minister Carney’s visit to Beijing last month. At the time, Carney stated that Xi had agreed to grant visa-free access to Canadians, though China had not publicly confirmed the pledge until today.
Margaret Liu, owner of Vancouver-based Formosa Travel Ltd., welcomed the announcement, but cautioned against expecting an immediate surge in Canadian tourism to China. “Many Canadians will only visit China once or twice in their lifetime, as the cost of flights, accommodation, and travel expenses can be very high,” she said, adding that the policy change could benefit the Chinese economy, which has been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liu as well expressed hope that the visa waiver would encourage China to authorize more direct flights to Vancouver and Toronto. “Hopefully, this will help attract more Chinese tourists to Canada,” she stated.
China has recently removed visa requirements for citizens of other Western nations in an effort to stimulate tourism following the pandemic. However, it maintained visa restrictions for Canadians and limited the number of Chinese tour groups permitted to visit Canada during a period of strained diplomatic relations.
Air travel between the two countries has been gradually increasing since the pandemic, though growth has been hampered by Canada’s requirement that flights arriving from China not overfly Russian territory. This policy aims to prevent foreign airlines from gaining an advantage over Canadian carriers, which are prohibited from flying over Russia due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During his visit to Beijing last month, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi Jinping signed a memorandum of understanding outlining collaboration between the two countries’ national tourism offices. The agreement focuses on promotional campaigns highlighting the natural attractions of both nations, sister city partnerships, and events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
