Canadians can now travel to China without a visa for a limited time
Canadians who want to visit China no longer need a visa to enter the country, but only for a limited time.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China announced on Tuesday that starting Feb. 17, 2026, passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom can travel to the country visa-free.
“Ordinary passport holders from the two countries can be exempted from a visa to enter China and stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family/friends visit, exchange and transit purposes,” reads a statement from the ministry on Feb. 15.
Crowd of tourists enjoying Lijiang old town in Yunnan, China (kitzcorner/Shutterstock)
However, the policy won’t be indefinite. Canadians will have until Dec. 31, 2026, to take advantage of the visa-free access to China.
Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, Anita Anand, confirmed the new policy on X.
“During the prime minister’s visit earlier this year, China committed to visa-free entry for Canadians,” she shared on Sunday. “This will take effect on Feb. 17, making travel easier, supporting business exchanges, and strengthening people-to-people ties between our countries.”
During the Prime Minister’s visit earlier this year, China committed to visa-free entry for Canadians. This will take effect on February 17, making travel easier, supporting business exchanges, and strengthening people-to-people ties between our countries.…
— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) February 15, 2026
This comes after the federal government announced a new strategic partnership with China in January.
According to a news release from Prime Minister Mark Carney, he welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s commitment to introducing visa-free access for Canadians travelling to China.
“At its best, the Canada-China relationship has created massive opportunities for both our peoples,” stated Carney in January. “By leveraging our strengths and focusing on trade, energy, agri-food, and areas where we can make huge gains, we are forging a new strategic partnership that builds on the best of our past, reflects the world as it is today, and benefits the people of both our nations.”
The Canadian government’s travel advice for China has yet to be updated as of Tuesday afternoon. It currently still states that Canadians require a visa for tourism and business, which is typically a long application process that costs roughly $140.