Canada eases visa requirements for eligible Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR - Canada will ease visa requirements for eligible travellers from Malaysia beginning Tuesday, in a move aimed at deepening trade, business and strategic ties with the Indo-Pacific region.

The new policy, which also applies to eligible citizens of Indonesia, will allow qualified travellers to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) instead of a traditional visitor visa when travelling to or transiting through Canada by air.

In a statement on Monday, Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister, Lena Metlege Diab, said the changes will take effect on May 26 at 5.30am Eastern Time.

Under the revised requirements, Malaysian and Indonesian citizens who have held a Canadian temporary resident visa (TRV) within the past 10 years, or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa, may be eligible to apply for an eTA instead of a visa for air travel or transit through Canada.

Those with valid TRVs may continue using them for travel to Canada, while travellers can check the official Canadian immigration portal for eligibility details and application procedures.

Diab said the move forms part of Canada’s broader effort to strengthen engagement across the Indo-Pacific by supporting trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

"Canada is working to attract the world’s brightest minds, strengthen our global partnerships and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers..

"Changing visa requirements for eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia is part of a broader whole-of-government effort to deepen Canada’s engagement across the Indo-Pacific, support trade and investment, and make it easier for people to connect, do business, and contribute to Canada’s long-term economic growth,” she said in the statement.

The eTA application is used by Canadian officials to conduct pre-travel screening for air travellers.

Meanwhile, the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa welcomed the move, describing it as a positive step that reflects stronger bilateral and economic ties between the two countries.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the High Commission said Malaysians who do not meet the screening criteria, or who plan to enter Canada by land, bus, train or marine vessel, including cruise ships, must still apply for a standard TRV.

Further details on eligibility and applications are available on the official Government of Canada immigration portal at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Malaysia is one of Canada’s largest bilateral merchandise trading partners in Southeast Asia.

Since 2020, bilateral trade between the two countries has risen by 60 per cent, increasing from US$3.8 billion in 2020 to US$6.1 billion in 2025.

In 2025, Canada welcomed about 11,500 visitors from Malaysia. - BERNAMA