Canada: Relations with China renewed following visa-free policy
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday (16/2) that Canada is “renewing” its relationship with China after Beijing announced a visa-free policy for Canadian citizens, describing the move as an important outcome of a new phase in bilateral engagement.
“We are renewing Canada’s relationship with China. As part of our new strategic partnership, China is granting visa-free access to Canadians,” Carney wrote on the social media platform X, calling the policy a tangible sign of improving relations between the two countries.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Sunday (15/2) that holders of ordinary passports from Canada and the United Kingdom would be permitted entry without a visa from 17 February 2026. The policy allows stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit purposes.
“To further facilitate cross-border travel, China has decided that from 17 February 2026 it will extend its visa-free policy to holders of ordinary passports from Canada and the United Kingdom,” the ministry said, adding that the policy would remain in effect until 31 December 2026.
The decision follows Carney’s visit to Beijing in January, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and welcomed the president’s commitment to introducing visa-free access for Canadians travelling to China, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also reached an agreement on people-to-people exchanges during a separate visit.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said on X that the change would make travel easier, support business exchanges and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The visa-free policy marks a shift after years of diplomatic tension, during which Beijing maintained visa requirements for Canadian citizens and restricted Chinese tour groups travelling to Canada.
Previously, most Canadian travellers faced a lengthy application process and costs of approximately 140 US dollars to enter China.
The renewed engagement between the two countries is also taking place amid broader economic negotiations, including an agreement allowing tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada in exchange for tariff relief on Canadian agricultural products such as canola seed.
In recent years, China has extended visa-free policies to a number of Western countries as part of efforts to revive its tourism and international travel sectors following the COVID-19 pandemic.