Travelling from Canada to China for treatment

Canadian citizens have been able to enter mainland China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days since 17 February 2026, under a policy currently in force through 31 December 2026. Treatment needing longer than 30 days requires an S2 medical visa, supported by an invitation letter from the treating hospital.

Entry policy verified September 2026. Rules change, and they change without much notice — we confirm the current position for your passport and your dates before you book travel.

Entry requirements for Canadian citizens

• 30 days visa-free. Canada was added to China's unilateral visa-free scheme on 17 February 2026. The policy is currently in force through 31 December 2026 and covers entry for medical treatment.
• Thirty days is the whole trip. It has to cover consultation, the procedure, inpatient recovery and any follow-up before you fly. For most surgery this is workable; for a course of therapy it often is not.
• Longer treatment: an S2 medical visa. Applied for at a Chinese embassy or consulate before travel, supported by an invitation letter from the treating hospital.
• Extensions are possible but not automatic. Medical treatment is a recognised reason to extend, applied for through the local exit-entry administration well before your current permission expires. We would rather plan a trip that fits than rely on an extension.
• The policy has an end date. It is renewable and has been extended before, but it is not permanent. We confirm the position for your dates before you book anything.

Why Canadian patients travel

• A wait that is measured in seasons rather than weeks — hip and knee replacement in particular.
• A procedure that is not covered provincially, where the alternative is a private clinic at private prices.
• A diagnosis where waiting carries real clinical cost, and a few months matters.

For what treatment actually costs, see indicative prices by procedure, or cancer treatment or eye surgery, joint replacement or dental implants if that is what brought you here.

What we handle

We are a care facilitator, not a medical provider and not an immigration adviser. We obtain the hospital invitation letter, confirm treatment dates before you commit to travel, and tell you which entry route fits the trip you actually need. The visa application itself is yours to file, and the decision rests with the Chinese authorities.