Canada, China reset ties with visa-free travel deal

Canada and China are moving to stabilize bilateral relations after Beijing confirmed visa-free travel for Canadian citizens, a step Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney framed as the start of a renewed phase in Canada–China ties. The policy, effective Feb. 17, 2026, allows ordinary Canadian passport holders to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa, covering tourism, business travel, family visits and transit.

Diplomatic thaw after high-level talks

Carney said the visa waiver reflects a “renewed” relationship with China following his January visit to Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the Canadian prime minister’s office, the issue of easier travel for Canadians was raised directly during those meetings. China’s Foreign Ministry later confirmed that the new arrangement will remain in force until Dec. 31, 2026, and will also apply to British passport holders.

Easing travel and business barriers

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that the measure will facilitate commercial engagement and strengthen people-to-people connections. Until now, Canadian travelers typically faced a lengthy visa process and fees of around $140 to enter China. The visa-free travel decision removes a practical obstacle that had symbolized the diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Beijing in recent years.

Economic dimension and broader trade talks

The shift comes alongside wider economic negotiations between the two countries. Ottawa and Beijing have been discussing trade arrangements that include increased access for Chinese electric vehicles to the Canadian market in exchange for tariff adjustments on Canadian agricultural exports such as canola. China, the world’s second-largest economy and a central player in global supply chains, has in recent years expanded visa exemptions to several Western nations to revive tourism and international mobility after the COVID-19 pandemic. For Türkiye and other export-driven economies, the recalibration in Canada–China relations underscores the continuing reshaping of global trade corridors and diplomatic alignments.