Canada strengthens Indo‑Pacific ties through changes to visa requirements…
Canada will allow eligible Indonesian and Malaysian passport holders to travel by air without a visitor visa starting in 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced May 25. Approved travellers will instead apply for an electronic travel authorization before boarding flights to Canada.
The change reverses a longstanding visa requirement for both countries. Indonesia and Malaysia have required visitor visas for decades, with applicants submitting biometrics, financial documents, and travel histories through visa application centres. Under the new system, eligible travellers will complete an online eTA application — the same process currently used by visa-exempt nationals from countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan.
Only travellers arriving by air qualify for the eTA option, according to the official release on canada.ca. Indonesian and Malaysian citizens entering Canada by land or sea will still need a visitor visa. The government did not specify which travellers meet eligibility criteria for the eTA, though the standard eTA system excludes applicants with prior immigration violations, criminal inadmissibility, or refused visa applications in certain timeframes. IRCC has not yet published the full eligibility requirements or the implementation date beyond "2026."
"Expanding visa-free air travel can help strengthen commercial ties, support investment and innovation, attract global talent," the announcement states, linking the policy to Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and ongoing negotiations for an ASEAN–Canada free trade agreement.
The change affects Indonesian and Malaysian business visitors, tourists, and family members travelling to Canada by air. Indonesia, with a population exceeding 270 million, and Malaysia, home to approximately 34 million people, represent two of Southeast Asia's largest economies. Canada already has trade agreements with both countries — the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership includes Malaysia, while the Canada–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement took effect in 2025. The government framed the visa policy shift as part of broader efforts to diversify trade partners and attract investment from the Indo-Pacific region.
Travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia should monitor the IRCC website for the specific launch date and detailed eligibility criteria before booking flights. Once the system goes live, applicants will apply for an eTA online at canada.ca/eta, pay the standard $7 fee, and receive a decision typically within minutes. Approved eTAs link electronically to the passport and remain valid for five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
Source: canada.ca IRCC backgrounders — published 2026-05-25.