Visa policy of Canada
Encyclopedia
Canada
's visa policy is mostly governed by the relationship these countries have with Canada. Many Commonwealth
nations' citizens are exempted from the need for visas when visiting or in transit to Canada. Those countries requiring visas to enter Canada often have immigration or diplomatic issues (e.g. illegal immigration).
Asia
Oceania
Europe
Africa
-Middle East
Americas
* Visa free travel for National Passport holders only.
** Visa free travel for holders of biometric passports only.
*** Visa free travel for holders of British National (Overseas)
Passports or valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passports issued by the Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China only.
**** Visa free travel only for holders of the ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes their personal identification number.
and the Czech Republic
were once exempted nations, but new visa restrictions were applied in 2009.
Malaysia was once an exempted nation, but visa restrictions applied in 2002 owing to the fact that the Malaysian passport and passport issuing systems were vulnerable to abuse.
. When the Czech Republic joined the European Union with 9 other countries in 2004, the European Union
started a dialogue with the Canadian government to lift visa requirements for citizens of these countries to receive visa reciprocity between the all Schengen countries and Canada. The result was the lifting of visa requirements for Czech citizens in October 2007. In 2009, Canada reintroduced visa for Czech citizens as the overstay percentage was too high as many Roma filed for asylum. The EU urged Canada that "This highly regrettable situation should be brought to an end as soon as possible." As of April 2011 visa requirements have not been lifted.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's visa policy is mostly governed by the relationship these countries have with Canada. Many Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
nations' citizens are exempted from the need for visas when visiting or in transit to Canada. Those countries requiring visas to enter Canada often have immigration or diplomatic issues (e.g. illegal immigration).
Visa exemption
Most visitors are allowed to stay in Canada for no more than six months but, in some cases, visitors can stay longer (by applying to Citizenship and Immigration Canada before their stay is up). The citizens of the following countries and territories are able to visit or transit through Canada with a valid passport and without obtaining a visa.Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
| ******* |
Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
| **** |
Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
-Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
| * |
Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
British National (Overseas)
British National , commonly known as BN, is one of the major classes of British nationality under British nationality law. Holders of this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British Citizens...
Passports or valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passports issued by the Government of the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China only.
Reintroduction of visas to Canada
Both MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
were once exempted nations, but new visa restrictions were applied in 2009.
Malaysia was once an exempted nation, but visa restrictions applied in 2002 owing to the fact that the Malaysian passport and passport issuing systems were vulnerable to abuse.
Reintroduction of visa requirements for Czech citizens
Canadian citizens enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen AreaSchengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
. When the Czech Republic joined the European Union with 9 other countries in 2004, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
started a dialogue with the Canadian government to lift visa requirements for citizens of these countries to receive visa reciprocity between the all Schengen countries and Canada. The result was the lifting of visa requirements for Czech citizens in October 2007. In 2009, Canada reintroduced visa for Czech citizens as the overstay percentage was too high as many Roma filed for asylum. The EU urged Canada that "This highly regrettable situation should be brought to an end as soon as possible." As of April 2011 visa requirements have not been lifted.