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🇨🇦CANADA
🇨🇳CHINACA-CN

Do Canada passport holders need a visa to visit China?

No visa is needed: from February 17 to December 31, 2026, Canadian ordinary passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for tourism and stay up to 30 days per entry. China added Canada to its unilateral visa-free list effective February 17, 2026, valid through December 31, 2026. Ordinary Canadian passport holders may enter for tourism, business, family/friends visits, exchanges or transit and stay up to 30 days per entry, with multiple entries currently allowed. You simply board your flight with a passport valid at least six months and complete the standard arrival/health formalities; no advance visa or application is required for trips of 30 days or less. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, work, study or report news, you must still obtain the appropriate visa (e.g. a Tourist (L) visa) in advance.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Canada (PR)Living in Canada as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Visa-free entry (unilateral visa exemption); Tourist (L) visa only if staying over 30 days
Maximum stay
Up to 30 calendar days per entry (counted from the day after entry)
per entry
Entries
Multiple entries currently permitted within the policy period
from issue date
Visa fee
CAD 0 for visa-free entry (L visa fallback: CAD 75 consular fee + service fee)
consular fee only
Processing time
None for visa-free; L visa approx. 4-5 business days if needed
standard track
Validity
Visa-free policy valid Feb 17 - Dec 31, 2026; passport must be valid 6+ months
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm you qualify for visa-free entry
You must hold an ordinary (not diplomatic/official/special) Canadian passport, travel for tourism/business/family/transit, and stay 30 days or less per entry. The policy runs Feb 17 - Dec 31, 2026.
· ordinary passport· max 30 days
/02
Check passport validity and blank pages
Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your entry date and has at least one or two blank pages.
· 6+ months valid· blank pages
/03
Book travel and prepare proof of plans
Have a return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready. Border officers may ask to see proof of onward travel, hotel bookings and sufficient funds.
· onward ticket· hotel proof
/04
Complete the arrival health/entry formalities
Fill out the arrival card and any required health declaration QR code before or on arrival. No advance visa application is needed.
· arrival card· health QR
/05
Enter China visa-free
Present your passport at immigration; the 30-day clock starts the day after entry. Register your accommodation address within 24 hours (hotels do this automatically).
· 30-day clock· register address
/06
If staying over 30 days, apply for an L visa instead
For longer trips, apply for a Tourist (L) visa through the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system and submit documents at a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) before you travel.
· COVA online· CVASC
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

9 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 9 complete
Ordinary Canadian passport
Valid at least 6 months beyond entry, with blank pages
Return or onward ticket
Proof you will leave within 30 days
Accommodation details
Hotel bookings or host address in China
Proof of sufficient funds
Bank statements or cards to cover the trip
Arrival/entry card
Completed on arrival or via the official app
Health declaration QR code
Complete if required at your port of entry
Accommodation registration
Within 24 hours of arrival; hotels register guests automatically
Travel insurance (recommended)
Optional but advised for medical coverage
L visa (only if over 30 days)
Apply in advance via COVA + CVASC if you exceed visa-free limits
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-free entryCAD 0No fee for stays of 30 days or less during Feb 17 - Dec 31, 2026
Tourist (L) visa — consular fee (only if needed)CAD 75Reduced consular fee for Canadians, all entry types
CVASC service fee (only if needed)CAD 58-63Added on top of consular fee when applying through a service centre
Total estimateCAD 0 — CAD 140+ (only if an L visa is required)incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free entry
Immediate at border
No application or processing; just present your passport at immigration.
Tourist (L) visa (only if over 30 days)
Approx. 4-5 business days
Standard processing at a CVASC after online COVA submission; express options may be available for an extra fee.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Staying longer than 30 days without a visa
The visa-free allowance is strictly 30 days per entry; overstaying leads to fines and possible detention. Get an L visa in advance for longer trips.
Medium
/02
Wrong passport type
Only ordinary passports qualify. Diplomatic, official or special passport holders must obtain a visa.
Low
/03
Purpose not covered
Visa-free entry covers tourism, business, family/friends visits, exchanges and transit only. Work, study or journalism require a proper visa.
Medium
/04
No proof of onward travel or funds
Border officers can deny entry if you cannot show a return/onward ticket, accommodation or sufficient funds.
Medium
/05
Insufficient passport validity
A passport with under six months validity or no blank pages can result in denied boarding or entry.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Use the foreign visitor lanes, keep hotel or invitation details handy, and make sure your entry purpose matches the visa-free category.
/02
Registration
Hotels normally register foreign guests automatically. If staying in a private residence, complete temporary residence registration with local police within 24 hours.
/03
Connectivity
Install maps, translation, and payment apps before travel. Some foreign services may not work reliably without roaming or a compliant VPN.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30 · major
Canada to China route verified
Confirmed via the Chinese Embassy in Canada that ordinary Canadian passport holders enjoy 30-day visa-free entry from Feb 17 to Dec 31, 2026; L visa remains the fallback for longer stays.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Canadians need a visa to visit China in 2026?—
No. From February 17 to December 31, 2026, ordinary Canadian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days per entry for tourism, business, family visits or transit. You only need a visa if you stay longer, or travel to work, study or report news.
How long can I stay visa-free?+
What if I want to stay longer than 30 days?+
Does the visa-free policy cover Hong Kong and Macao?+
Is the visa-free policy permanent?+
What documents should I carry at the border?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the Canada passport

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Compare the Canada passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇨🇦◐
Canada visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇨🇦▤
Canada passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
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