The short answer
You apply through the Chinese visa centre for the area you live in. Ontario and Manitoba: Toronto. British Columbia and Yukon: Vancouver. Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories: Calgary. Quebec and New Brunswick: Montreal. The Ottawa region (including Gatineau), Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut: Ottawa.
- Visa centres in Canada
- Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa
- Visa fee, Canadian passport
- CAD 75 to 31 Dec 2026, plus the centre's service fee
- Processing (regular)
- About 4 working days
- Fingerprints
- Not needed for short-term visas to 31 Dec 2026
Reviewed by the Markham Visa China visa team · Last checked November 6, 2026
Which Chinese visa centre serves my province?
China's embassy and four consulates-general each cover a set part of Canada (their consular district), and each has a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre that takes applications from ordinary passport holders in that district.
| If you live in… | Your mission | Visa centre |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario (outside the Ottawa region) and Manitoba | Consulate-General in Toronto | Toronto — 1501-393 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1E6 |
| British Columbia and Yukon | Consulate-General in Vancouver | Vancouver |
| Alberta, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories | Consulate-General in Calgary | Calgary |
| Quebec (outside Gatineau) and New Brunswick | Consulate-General in Montreal | Montreal |
| Ottawa region (including Gatineau), Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut | Embassy in Ottawa | Ottawa — 220 Laurier Ave W, Suite 1450, Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9 |
Check the address and opening hours on your centre's own website before you go — we list only the addresses we have confirmed from official pages.
Do I still need a China visa in 2026?
Possibly not. Canadian passport holders can currently enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits and transit, until 31 December 2026. You still need a visa for a longer stay, for work or study, for a trip after that date, or if you travel on another passport.
If you visit China regularly, a multiple-entry visa issued now can still be valid after the visa-free period ends.
How much does a China visa cost in Canada?
Two parts: the consular visa fee and the visa centre's own service fee. For Canadian citizens, the consular fee is CAD 75 per person regardless of the number of entries, a reduced rate the Toronto consulate says applies until 31 December 2026. Other passports pay different amounts.
At the Toronto centre, the total for a Canadian passport is $137.15 at regular speed, $203.79 express and $249.30 urgent. Each centre publishes its own schedule, so check yours.
How long does it take?
| Service | Processing time (guideline) |
|---|---|
| Regular | 4 working days |
| Express | 3 working days |
| Urgent | 2 working days |
These are the consulate's general guidelines from the day the application is accepted, not a promise. Add the time to prepare the application, book a visit and collect the passport — and leave a margin before you fly.
What do I need to bring?
- Your passport, with at least six months of validity left and blank visa pages.
- The completed online application and its confirmation.
- Supporting documents for your visa type — for a tourist visa, a round-trip ticket and hotel booking, or an invitation letter.
- If you're not a Canadian citizen: proof of your legal status in Canada.
Short-term visa applicants (stays up to 180 days) are exempt from fingerprinting from 18 December 2025 to 31 December 2026.
How does applying with Markham Visa work if I don't live in Toronto?
- You order online and upload your passport and documents through an encrypted link.
- We complete the online application, check every field against your passport and every document against the checklist for your visa type.
- You receive a completed package: the finished application and its confirmation, with a list of exactly what to bring.
- You hand it in at the visa centre for your area and pay the centre's fees there — we never charge you for them twice.
In the Toronto centre's district, we can also take your application to the centre for you.
Doing it yourself vs. using a visa service
Doing it yourself
- Work out your visa type, fill in the long online form and match it exactly to your passport.
- Assemble the documents for your category and hope nothing is missing at the counter.
- A mistake usually means another visit to the centre and a later visa date.
With Markham Visa
- We tell you first whether you need a visa at all — free.
- We complete the online application and check every document before you go.
- You arrive at your local centre with a complete package, wherever you live in Canada.
If your trip fits the visa-free rules, you don't need anyone. If you need a visa and your dates matter, a checked package is what makes one visit to the centre enough.
Start your China visa
Wherever you live in Canada: we check whether you need a visa, prepare the application, and give you a complete package for your local visa centre.
Start your China visa →Frequently asked questions
I live in Vancouver — can I apply at the Toronto visa centre?
Apply at the centre for where you live. British Columbia and Yukon are covered by the Consulate-General in Vancouver, so residents there apply through the Vancouver visa centre.
I live in Gatineau. Where do I apply for a China visa?
Ottawa. The Embassy in Ottawa covers the Ottawa region including Gatineau, even though Gatineau is in Quebec.
Which centre serves Manitoba?
Toronto. The Consulate-General in Toronto covers Ontario and Manitoba.
Do I need to give fingerprints for a China visa in Canada?
Not for a short-term visa (a stay of up to 180 days) between 18 December 2025 and 31 December 2026. Longer-stay visas are not covered by this exemption.
How long does a China visa take in Canada?
The consulate's guideline is 4 working days regular, 3 express and 2 urgent, after the centre accepts your application. Plan extra time for preparation, your visit and collection.
Official sources
- Consular Jurisdiction of the Embassy and Consulates-General of the PRC in Canada — checked November 6, 2026
- Consulate-General of the PRC in Toronto — Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application — checked November 6, 2026
- Embassy of the PRC in Canada — Consular services — checked November 6, 2026
Rules change. This guide is general information, not legal advice — always check the official source before you travel, and ask us about your own situation.