Canada Relaxes Visa Requirements for Some Malaysian and Indonesian Citizens 

When citizens of other countries want to travel to Canada as visitors, Canada determines their entry requirements based on the passport the traveller holds. Citizens of some countries can travel to Canada without the need for a visa, whereas citizens of other countries can only travel to Canada if they hold a visa. 

However, visa-free travel does not mean that every citizen of a country with an agreement with Canada is eligible to enter Canada with just a passport. Sometimes other requirements are in place, but they are generally less onerous than applying for a visa. Requirements vary from country to country, and citizens should be aware of them before planning to travel to Canada.

Visa-Free Travel Changes in Recent Years

Canada currently offers visa-free travel to citizens of over 50 countries. The number of countries with visa-free travel to Canada fluctuates, as the Canadian Government changes regulations. For example, in June 2023, Canada announced that 13 more countries would be eligible for travel to Canada under the electronic travel authorization program. At that time, some citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay gained the ability to travel to Canada without a visa. Even more recently, Qatar was added to the list of countries with visa-free travel to Canada.

Sometimes, countries with visa-free travel to Canada have that status revoked. A contemporary example is Mexico. Mexican citizens used to be able to travel to Canada using an electronic travel authorization, but Canada revoked that status in 2024. Thus, even if a country is afforded visa-free travel, it is possible that this status can be revoked in the future.

In May 2026, two more countries were added to the list of countries where citizens who meet certain requirements can travel to Canada without a visa.

Some Indonesian and Malaysian Citizens Can Now Travel to Canada Visa-Free

On May 25, 2026, Minister of Immigration Lena Metlege Diab announced a change to the visa requirements for citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia that is set to go into effect on May 26, 2026.

Some citizens who meet certain requirements can now apply for an electronic travel authorization instead of a temporary resident visa when travelling to Canada. 

Citizens of both nations can apply for an electronic travel authorization to come to Canada if they meet one of the following conditions at the time they make their electronic travel authorization application:

• They currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa; or
• They held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last ten years.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada considers people who meet either of the above requirements to be “known” travellers, as they have already been vetted by the immigration services of Canada or the United States when planning to come to Canada.

Electronic Travel Authorization Only Applicable to Air Travel

An important thing to note is that electronic travel authorization applies only to citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia travelling to Canada by air. Those who attempt to cross by land or sea from the United States or another country still require a visa, even if they would otherwise qualify for an electronic travel authorization based on the changes.

Electronic Travel Authorization Process

The current processing time for visitor visas to Indonesia is estimated at 24 days. The processing time for Malaysia is estimated to be 43 days. Processing times for all immigration applications are constantly in flux, making it hard to properly predict when an applicant will hear about their application. Compared with a visitor visa, applying for an electronic travel authorization is faster, cheaper, and easier.

The cost of applying for an electronic travel authorization is only $7, and can be paid with a credit card or debit card. The application is done through the online application form. Once the application is completed, most applicants will receive an answer if their application is approved within minutes. If additional documents are required before an application can be approved, the applicant will be informed via email with instructions within 72 hours.

Electronic travel authorizations are linked to the holder’s passport electronically, and they are valid for the first of either five years or passport expiration. The holder of an electronic travel authorization can enter Canada multiple times for its duration as long as they otherwise meet admissibility requirements.  

Rationale for the Change

Canada has significant economic ties with both Malaysia and Indonesia, which likely prompted this policy change. Bilateral trade between Canada and Indonesia totalled $6.75 billion in 2025. Indonesia is Canada’s second-largest export market in Southeast Asia. Trade with Malaysia has increased greatly since 2020, and bilateral trade between Malaysia and Canada is similar to trade between Canada and Indonesia, as there was $6.1 billion of bilateral trade in 2025. 

Both Malaysia and Indonesia have large populations, but the number of visitors from those countries to Canada has been small compared to those populations. In 2025, 18,300 visitors from Indonesia and 11,500 visitors from Malaysia came to Canada. This change should spur more travel from those countries to Canada, as applying for and receiving an electronic travel authorization is less time-consuming and onerous than applying for a visitor visa. For those who do not qualify for an electronic travel authorization, the changes are still promising, as they provide additional avenues for potential future travel to Canada. 

Garson Immigration Law: Toronto Immigration Lawyers Advising on Electronic Travel Visas

For help with applying for visitor visas or other visas to Canada, Garson Immigration Law can help. We are a Toronto-based law firm that helps people find solutions to their immigration needs, including obtaining permanent residence in Canada and overcoming inadmissibility. Our focus on immigration allows us to understand our clients’ unique concerns and obstacles.

Our skilled immigration lawyers have extensive experience in all immigration matters, including work permits, student visas, and US immigration from Canada. If you have any questions about an immigration matter, do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 416-321-2860.