Families visiting Canada from Greater China often travel on different passports — and each passport can require a different entry document. Getting this wrong can mean being refused boarding at the airport.
Quick guide
- Mainland China (People’s Republic of China passport): you need a visitor visa (temporary resident visa, TRV).
- Hong Kong SAR passport: you are visa-exempt and need an eTA to fly to Canada.
- Macao SAR passport: visa-exempt; you need an eTA to fly.
- Taiwan: if you hold an ordinary passport issued by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that includes your personal identification number, you need an eTA. Other Taiwan passports require a visitor visa.
About the eTA
- Required only when flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport — not when arriving by land or sea.
- Costs CAN$7 and is valid for up to five years, or until your passport expires.
- It is linked to your passport, so a new passport needs a new eTA.
- Most are approved within minutes, but some take several days. Apply before you book flights, and use only the official Government of Canada website.
About the visitor visa
- May be valid for up to 10 years, or until your passport or biometrics expire. The officer decides whether it is single- or multiple-entry.
- Most visitors can stay up to 6 months per entry.
- Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may instead apply for a super visa, which allows stays of up to 5 years per entry.
Common scenario
A couple in Victoria invites both sets of parents for a graduation: one set holds mainland Chinese passports, the other Hong Kong SAR passports. The first set must apply for visitor visas — allow weeks for biometrics and processing — while the second set only needs eTAs. Plan the visa applications first.
This article is general information based on Government of Canada guidance as of September 2026, not legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently; please confirm current requirements or book a consultation for advice on your situation.
Sources
- What you need to enter Canada — Government of Canada
- Find out about eTA — Government of Canada
- About the visitor visa — Government of Canada
