Canada Visitor Visa (TRV) from China: VACs, Fees & Process (2026)

China is not on Canada’s visa-exempt list, so Chinese passport holders need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — not an eTA — to visit Canada as a tourist. The process runs entirely online with an in-person biometrics step, and the visa itself typically allows multiple visits over several years. Here’s what applying from China specifically involves in 2026.

Why the eTA doesn’t apply to you

Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is only available to passport holders from visa-exempt countries (plus a short list of nationalities granted eTA eligibility under specific conditions, such as some Indonesian and Malaysian applicants with a recent US visa history). China is not on the eTA-eligible list, so Chinese travelers apply for the full TRV through an IRCC online account — there’s no shortcut equivalent to the eTA for this corridor.

Visa Application Centres (VACs) in China

Canada doesn’t operate its own visa office in mainland China; applications are processed online, but biometrics must be given in person at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) run under contract by VFS Global. VAC cities serving China have included Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, among others as the network has expanded over the years — confirm the current list and your nearest location when you receive your Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL), since VAC footprints change. Book your biometrics appointment within the window stated in your BIL; availability can tighten around Chinese holidays (Lunar New Year, Golden Week), so apply with buffer time if you’re traveling around those periods.

Fees

Reported current IRCC fees for this application are:

TRV application fee: CAD $100 per person (capped at CAD $500 for a family of five or more applying together).
Biometrics fee: CAD $85 per person (CAD $170 for two or more family members applying together), valid for 10 years once given — you generally won’t need to repeat biometrics on a subsequent application within that window if your TRV is renewed before the biometrics expire.

Confirm current amounts on IRCC’s official fee schedule before paying, since fees are periodically adjusted.

What the visa actually allows

Once approved, the TRV is placed in your passport and is commonly issued as multiple-entry, valid up to your passport’s expiry date (whichever is sooner between that and any IRCC-set limit). The visa itself doesn’t set your stay length — a border services officer at your port of entry decides how long you can stay on each visit, commonly up to six months, and stamps or notes that on arrival. This distinction matters: having a 5- or 10-year multiple-entry TRV does not mean you can stay in Canada continuously for that whole period — each individual visit is capped separately at entry.

What you’ll need to apply

A valid passport with enough blank pages and validity beyond your planned stay.
A completed online application through your IRCC secure account, including travel history and personal details.
Proof of funds sufficient for your trip and return.
Evidence of ties to China — employment, property, family — supporting that your visit is temporary.
An invitation letter, if you’re visiting family or friends in Canada (not mandatory, but commonly requested as supporting evidence).
Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) given in person at a VAC, unless you’ve given valid biometrics for Canada within the past 10 years.

Processing time

IRCC’s published visitor visa processing times vary by application volume and have fluctuated over recent years; check IRCC’s current processing-time tool for the live estimate for applications from China specifically, and apply well ahead of your planned travel dates rather than relying on an average.

A note on the “10-year visa” confusion

Some guides online describe a “10-year multiple-entry visa” in the context of China-Canada travel — but that figure usually refers to China’s own visa arrangement for Canadian citizens visiting China, not Canada’s visa for Chinese nationals. Don’t confuse the two directions; the 10-year figure that does apply on the Canada side is the biometrics validity period, not the TRV’s own validity, which is generally tied to your passport expiry.

This is not legal advice

Visitor visa fees, VAC locations, and processing times change periodically. Confirm current details directly on IRCC’s official website before applying, and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer for anything beyond routine preparation.

Applying for a Canadian visitor visa from China and want updates as requirements change? Join the VisaMet waitlist.

VisaMet provides preparation guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the official source before applying.