What to know

China is expanding its unilateral visa-free program to include Canada, adding to its list of 48 countries.

Under the visa-free program, Canadian nationals will be able to stay in China for up to 30 days without visas for tourism purposes.

The announcement comes as Canada’s trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico is up for renegotiation, and is being hailed as strategic and opportunistic.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you plan to take advantage of the visa-free program. Now Toronto has you covered.

Canadians are reacting to news that they will soon be able to travel to China without a visa, marking a significant shift in Canada–China relations.

Under the new agreement, Canadian passport holders will be allowed to stay in China for up to 30 days visa-free, joining a list of 48 countries worldwide granted entry without advance paperwork.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the deal alongside with Chinese President Xi Jin Ping during his visit to Beijing earlier this week. The two leaders also unveiled new trade agreements, including partnerships involving Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian canola exports.

@nowtoronto Prime Minister Mark Carney has landed in Beijing on Wednesday, and said he is ready to negotiate a new trade partnership between #Canada and #China. ♬ original sound – Now Toronto

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Canada Joins China’s Visa-Free Travel Program

Canada was previously excluded from China’s unilateral visa-free entry policy, along with the United States and the United Kingdom. Most of Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and several South American countries, already participate in the program.

Carney’s trip marks the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017, coming at a time of heightened global economic and political tension.

Visa-free travel tied to shifting trade and geopolitics

The announcement comes as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is up for revision later this month. Since 2018, the trilateral agreement has guaranteed duty-free trade of over 90 per cent of goods between the three countries. In recent months, Trump had referred to the deal as “irrelevant” and with “no real advantage.”

Given the political context, many are calling the visa-free program one of opportunity.

“It’s part of the goodwill gesture that the Chinese government is sending to Canada,” Lynette Ong, political scientist and China and Asia specialist at the University of Toronto, tells Now Toronto.

“Given the geopolitical tension between the United States and China, I think China wants Canada to be on its side because it’s a balance against the U.S. … It’s out of necessity, from both sides. Economic necessity from the Canadian side and geopolitical necessity from the Chinese side.”

Internet Reacts to Visa-Free China Travel

Social media users were quick to weigh, with many also framing the move as a sign of warming relationship beyond trade.

“I know you probably don’t give a s**t what I think as an American, but the shock is more about the visa-free travel between Canada and China. That signals Canada is looking for a stronger relationship than mere trade partners,” an X user wrote.

“Visa-free entry is a big step. Every country/culture shows goodwill differently, they could’ve just stopped at a trade deal, but didn’t. Could be interpreted as wanting Canadian culture influencing Chinese culture. Guessing Canadians in China will get treated like gold,” another added.

While the start date to the visa-free program hasn’t been confirmed yet, some are already planning out their itinerary.

“Lowkey maybe I do a trip to China this summer,” one X user wrote.

“Find me at the indoor shrimp farm in suburban Chongqing this summer,” another joked.

“Catch me in the mountains of Yunnan sipping puer (tea) with the boys this summer,” another wrote.

What Canadians can and can’t do under China’s visa-free program

Eligible Canadians can travel visa-free to China regardless of their departure country, with no restrictions on how many times per year they can use the program.

Visiting a shrimp farm and sipping tea with the boys are all allowed, as are the following activities:

Tourism and sightseeing

Business meetings and conferences

Visiting family and friends

Cultural or academic exchange

Transit

You are not allowed to engage in the following activities:

Employment or paid work

Long-term study (diploma programs)

Journalism or media activities

For those who enter China visa-free but end up staying past 30 days, they must apply for stay permits through China’s Exit and Entry Administration.

While most visa-free programs remain valid until Dec. 31, 2026, the program expires earlier for Russian nationals, on Sep. 14, 2026.

Canadians travelling to China will still need to complete an arrival card, either online or at airport kiosks upon arrival. Travellers are also encouraged to review the latest travel advisories from the Government of Canada before departure.