Talks between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Xi Jinping in Beijing on 16 January 2026 produced headlines about a forthcoming 30-day visa-waiver for Canadian visitors to mainland China. However, immigration specialists caution that the agreement remains a political commitment until China’s National Immigration Administration publishes an implementing notice—and none has been issued as of 17 January.
VisaVerge reports that airlines and border officers will continue to apply standard visa rules for Canadians, except for limited transit-without-visa and Hainan-island exemptions. Travellers attempting to board without a stamped or electronic visa risk being denied carriage.
In the meantime, services such as VisaHQ can shoulder the paperwork burden: the platform keeps real-time tabs on regulatory changes and can file Chinese visa applications on behalf of Canadian clients, from single-entry tourist visas to multi-entry business permits. Travellers can learn more or begin an application at https://www.visahq.com/canada/.
![China signals 30-day visa-free access for Canadians—but policy not yet in force]()
For Canadian businesses the potential waiver is significant: China is Canada’s third-largest trading partner, and executives often face multi-entry-visa fees and tight appointment windows at Chinese consulates. Mobility managers should nonetheless advise travellers to secure visas as usual until official channels confirm a start date.
The proposed waiver comes as China expands its unilateral visa-free programme, recently adding Norway and New Zealand. Diplomatic observers say Canada’s inclusion would signal a thaw in bilateral relations that soured after the 2018 Huawei affair. Ottawa, for its part, may face domestic scrutiny over reciprocity, as China already enjoys 10-year multi-entry visas for most categories in Canada.
Travel departments should monitor updates from the Chinese embassy and Global Affairs Canada. Once implemented, policy manuals will need revising to reflect new maximum-stay limits, permitted purposes and proof-of-funds requirements under the waiver.
VisaVerge reports that airlines and border officers will continue to apply standard visa rules for Canadians, except for limited transit-without-visa and Hainan-island exemptions. Travellers attempting to board without a stamped or electronic visa risk being denied carriage.
In the meantime, services such as VisaHQ can shoulder the paperwork burden: the platform keeps real-time tabs on regulatory changes and can file Chinese visa applications on behalf of Canadian clients, from single-entry tourist visas to multi-entry business permits. Travellers can learn more or begin an application at https://www.visahq.com/canada/.
For Canadian businesses the potential waiver is significant: China is Canada’s third-largest trading partner, and executives often face multi-entry-visa fees and tight appointment windows at Chinese consulates. Mobility managers should nonetheless advise travellers to secure visas as usual until official channels confirm a start date.
The proposed waiver comes as China expands its unilateral visa-free programme, recently adding Norway and New Zealand. Diplomatic observers say Canada’s inclusion would signal a thaw in bilateral relations that soured after the 2018 Huawei affair. Ottawa, for its part, may face domestic scrutiny over reciprocity, as China already enjoys 10-year multi-entry visas for most categories in Canada.
Travel departments should monitor updates from the Chinese embassy and Global Affairs Canada. Once implemented, policy manuals will need revising to reflect new maximum-stay limits, permitted purposes and proof-of-funds requirements under the waiver.
