Vancouver, British Columbia - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today welcomed China’s new long-term, multiple-entry visas for Canadians.

The new multiple-entry visa, valid for up to 10 years, will ease travel, reduce costs and cut down on delays and time spent preparing for trips to China. This will directly benefit Canadian business people, who regularly travel between the two countries to boost exports, as well as tourists and Canadians visiting family, enhancing people-to-people ties.

Effective today, Canadians may submit their requests for the new multiple-entry visa to Chinese consulates and authorities.

China is a priority market under Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan, the government’s blueprint for creating jobs and prosperity through exports, as well as Canada’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way merchandise trade reaching almost $78 billion in 2014.

Quick Facts

• In 2014, China was Canada’s second-largest export market, with exports valued at nearly $19.3 billion, up 45.7 percent over the past five years.
• Canada recently opened new trade offices in China to provide more on-the-ground support to Canadian businesses, bringing the total to 15 offices and 100 trade commissioners.
• The recently updated Canada-China Air Transport Agreement has increased air traffic between Canada and China by approximately 14 percent between 2013 and 2014, to reach close to 1.5 million total one-way passenger trips.

Quotes             

“Today’s announcement of multiple-entry visas will greatly benefit Canadians, from businesses to tourists to those visiting their family members back in China. 

“Our government’s priority is to reduce costs, cut red tape and make it easier for Canadian companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to export and grow their business, creating jobs and prosperity for Canadians.”

- Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

“Today's announcement of multiple-entry visas for ‎Canadians doing business or visiting China is terrific news for Canada's entrepreneurs. This will ease the costs, red tape and time associated with doing business in China, a market of growing importance to small and medium-sized businesses.”

- Dan Kelly, President and CEO, Canadian Federation of Independent Business

“The future of countless Canadian businesses is in China. These new visa arrangements will make it easier for them to meet more frequently with their clients, distributors and suppliers, and to build the long-term relationships they need to compete.”

- Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

“CCBC applauds the announcement that Canadians will now be granted 10-year multiple-entry visas by China. As a Council that strives to make bilateral business easier for Canadian and Chinese companies, we are encouraged that yet another administrative hurdle has fallen. Just as Chinese investors and visitors have benefited greatly by Canada’s multiple-year visa policy over the past few years, we know that our companies will derive great benefit from this simplified process.”

- Sarah Kutulakos, Executive Director and COO, Canada China Business Council

“Access to a 10-year multiple-entry visa means that Canadian companies and other stakeholders wanting to explore or expand their links with China will be able to do so more quickly and easily. This is good news for trade, education, and tourism—it will enhance people-to-people ties between our two countries. Our organisation's goal is to build Canada’s bridges with Asia, and the new visa helps us do that.”

- Stewart Beck, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation

“Even in today's globally networked environment, and perhaps even more so now than ever, companies succeed in international business by building person-to-person relationships. That is especially true in China. The fact that Canadians are allowed multiple-entry visas into China will help expedite business travel between our two countries. This is an important announcement that will help Canadian companies grow their business with China.”

- Jay Myers, President and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)