Canada Eases Entry Rules for Some Travellers From Malaysia and Indonesia

Canada has eased entry rules for some air passengers from Malaysia and Indonesia who enter the country for travel or transit.

As of May 26, travellers from Malaysia and Indonesia may apply for electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a visitor visa if they have held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last 10 years. Those who hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa will also be eligible.

An eTA typically involves a simpler online application process at a cost of $7, and is processed in minutes, according to the immigration department. A visitor visa for citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia, meanwhile, can cost more than $100 and takes significantly longer to process.

The government said the easing comes as part of Canada’s push to deepen and expand ties across Asia, bolster investment in the region, boost international trade and help diversify opportunities for Canadian businesses.

“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 makes it easier for people to connect, do business and contribute to Canada’s long-term economic growth,” Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said in a May 25 news release.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has made a series of trips to the region in the past six months as he seeks to diversify trade away from the United States.

He met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during an ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur in October last year where the two agreed to deepen investment in liquified natural gas, oil, nuclear, and renewable energy. The countries aim to increase bilateral trade with a focus on collaboration in “clean and conventional energy,” critical minerals, defence, and artificial intelligence, the Prime Minister’s Office said following the meeting.

Canada currently runs a significant trade deficit with Malaysia, with trade between the countries reaching about $6.1 billion in 2025, including $1.7 billion in Canadian exports and $4.4 billion in imports.

Carney met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Ottawa in September 2025. It was the first bilateral visit between Canadian and Indonesian leaders in 25 years. The two signed the Canada–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, a proposed trade pact that seeks to lower trade barriers and increase cooperation in sectors including energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and digital commerce.

Canada also runs a modest trade deficit with Indonesia, importing manufactured goods and commodities such as palm oil and electrical machinery while exporting products including wheat, fertilizer, pulp and paper.