Oh, Canada, the best country in the world! – singing in the tune of Borat’s famous song!
Kidding aside, Canada is truly one of the best countries – passport rather – in the travel world. Sitting on the top 18th (rank 3) according to passportindex.org. Canadian citizens can travel to 172 countries without a visa. When you are travelling or staying in hostels, you will meet at least one Canadian. Their passport can take them far and they are surely taking advantage of it.
On this article, I’ll show which countries you can enter without a visa if you hold a Canadian passport. While other countries, where you can get a visa on arrival and countries that required you to obtain one beforehand will also be listed here, I’ll also give you tips on how to an evisa if you need one.
You may use the table of contents to navigate faster.
NOTE: All prices are in US Dollars
HOW MANY COUNTRIES CAN A CANADIAN CITIZEN TRAVEL WITHOUT A VISA
A Canadian passport holder can enter to 172 countries without a visa, 51 visa on arrival, while 33 require a visa before entering their country. This placed Canada in one of the strongest passports in the travelling world.
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WHAT COUNTRIES REQUIRE A VISA FOR CANADIAN CITIZENS
Only 31 countries require you to have a visa before you enter (a visa that you have to get from the Embassy or Consulate). Some of them are obtainable online, you must do your own research, sometimes, you need to get the visa from your own home country. Here are the countries that require you to have a visa:
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| Afghanistan | Chad | Eritea | Liberia | Russia |
| Algeria | China | Ghana | Libya | Sierra Leone |
| Bhutan | Republic of Congo | Guinea | Mali | South Sudan |
| Burundi | Democratic Republic of Congo | Iran | Nauru | Sudan |
| Cameroon | Equatorial Guinea | Iraq | Niger | Syria |
| Central African Republic | Yemen | North Korea | Nigeria | Turkmenistan |
VISA FREE COUNTRIES FOR CANADIAN PASSPORT HOLDERS
I will list the visa-free countries, visa on arrival, and visa required in a categorical order of demographic location.
MAYBE YOU ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW ABOUT:
- New Zealand passport visa-free countries
- Visa-free countries for Australian citizens
- British passport visa free countries
- Visa-free countries for USA Passport Holders
- Backpacking in Southeast Asia
- Visa-free countries for Philippines Passport Holders
- German passport holder visa-free countries
MEMBER OF THE COMMONWEALTH NATIONS
Check the visa policies of British Overseas Territories where Canadian passport holders can benefit from its visa-free policy/ies.
VISA GUIDE FOR ASIA
READ: Fun and educational trips to add on your Asia bucket list
Central Asia
VISA FREE:
- Kazakhstan – 30 days
- Kyrgyzstan – 60 days
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Tajikistan – evisa for 45 days, can enter to any border points – get an evisa online
- Uzbekistan – evisa for 30 days, 5-day free transit, must show onward ticket and must transit on international airports – APPLY FOR YOUR EVISA HERE
VISA REQUIRED:
- Turkmenistan
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East Asia
VISA FREE:
- Hong Kong – 90 days
- Japan – 90 days
- Macao – 30 days
- Mongolia – 30 days
- South Korea – 180 days
- Taiwan – 90 days
VISA REQUIRED:
- China – visa must obtain before leaving Canada. You can apply for a Chinese visa from other countries depending on the Chinese embassy’s policy or you can get a visa that is valid for 10 years online.
- North Korea
Southeast Asia
VISA FREE:
- Brunei – 14 days
- Indonesia- 30 days – read this Indonesia tourist visa
- Malaysia – 90 days
- Philippines – 30 days, be extended to 59 days for a fee, don’t need 6-months validity on the passport or retire in the Philippines
- Singapore – 30 days
- Thailand – 30 days, maximum of two visits per year if not arriving by air
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Cambodia – visa on arrival/evisa for 30 days – get your evisa – read this Cambodia visa guide
- Laos – visa on arrival for 30 days, extendable up to up to 60 days – read Laos visa guide or apply here
- Myanmar – evisa for 28 days – you can apply for the evisa here or check my Myanmar visa guide
- Timor-Leste – visa on arrival for 30 days
- Vietnam – evisa for 30 days or apply for 90 days, single or multiple entries – apply online
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South Asia
VISA FREE:
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Bangladesh – visa on arrival for 30 days
- India – 180 days for evisa, must arrive in designated airports, an e-Tourist visa can only be obtained twice in one calendar year – Get you Tourist evisa HERE – how to apply for an Indian visa online
- Maldives – visa on arrival for 30 days
- Nepal – visa on arrival for 90 days
- Pakistan – 30-day evisa – APPLY FOR EVISA
- Sri Lanka – visa on arrival or evisa for 30 days – apply for an evisa online
VISA REQUIRED:
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- Pakistan – 30 days visa on arrival if travelling with an authorised tour group/operator
West / Middle East
VISA FREE:
- Armenia – 180 days
- Georgia – 360 days
- Israel – 90 days
- Palestine
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Armenia – visa on arrival/evisa for 180 days within 1 year
- Azerbaijan – evisa for 30 days – How to get an Azerbaijan visa or check evisa price
- Jordan – visa on arrival for 30 days, conditions apply – you can apply for Jordan pass to maximise the value of your money – check the price
- Kuwait – visa on arrival/evisa for 90 days – read how to get an evisa or see the price
- Lebanon – visa on arrival for 1 month, can be extended for 2 months for free at Beirut International Airport if you don’t have a stamp or seal from Israel, an address in Lebanon, telephone number, and an exit ticket.
- Oman – evisa for 30 days – APPLY HERE
- Qatar – visa on arrival for 30 days
- Saudi Arabia – evisa with a maximum of 90 days stay in 1 year – GET IT HERE
- Turkey -evisa for 90 days, visa-free if on a cruise ship that will arrive and depart on the same day – APPLY FOR EVISA HERE
- United Arab Emirates – visa on arrival for free for 30 days
VISA REQUIRED:
- Iran
- Syria
- Yemen
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VISA GUIDE FOR EUROPE
Schengen Area
VISA FREE:
Canadian citizens can enter the Schengen countries without a visa for 90 days in the 180-day period. You can move freely around these states without crossing any border point/immigration without obtaining a visa unless your visa has expired or you run out of days. Note that it is 90 days for the entire Schengen area not per country.
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| SCHENGEN MEMBERS: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | France | Latvia | Norway | Sweden |
| Belgium | Germany | Liechtenstein | Poland | Switzerland |
| Czech Republic | Greece | Lithuania | Portugal | |
| Denmark | Hungary | Luxembourg | Slovakia | |
| Estonia | Iceland | Malta | Slovenia | |
| Finland | Italy | Netherlands | Spain |
Non-Schengen Area
FREE VISA:
- Albania – 90 days
- Andorra
- Belarus – 30 days must arrive visa Minsk Airport
- Bulgaria – 90 days within the 180-day period
- Croatia – 90 days within the 180-day period
- Cyprus – 90 days within the 180-day period – read this first timer’s guide to Cyprus
- Ireland – 90 days, must show the purpose of travel, sufficient fund, return ticket, and accommodation booking
- Kosovo – 90 days
- Macedonia – 90 days
- Moldova – 90 days
- Monaco – 90 days within the 180-day
- Montenegro – 90 days
- Romania – 90 days within the 180-day
- San Marino
- Serbia – 90 days
- Ukraine – 90 days within 180-day
- United Kingdom – 180 days must show return ticket and accommodation booking
- Vatican City
VISA REQUIRED:
- Russia – if you are on a cruise ship, planning to stay for not more than 72 hours, and will spend each night on board, and will only leave the ship with the organised tour arranged by your cruise ship company, then you do not need a visa – you need an invitation letter from a person in Russia or a travel agency if you are applying for a visa, you can get it online too
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VISA GUIDE FOR AFRICA
Africa is a massive continent with a rich culture and beautiful countries to explore. Either you want to go hiking, surfing, safari tripping, and other fun activities, Africa is a great place to explore. While if you are into volunteering and other activities to help the world and other people in need, there are many charities that you can support or projects that you can work on.
This continent is very interesting in so many ways, many travellers are worried about safety, which is understandable. But there are also many places you can explore that are perfectly safe and filled with amazing locals. If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, check this gay-friendly African countries guide.
Central Africa
FREE VISA:
- Sao Tome and Principe – 15 days
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Angola – evisa for 30 days
- Gabon – visa on arrival or evisa for 90 days, evisa must arrive via Libreville International Airport
- Rwanda – visa on arrival or evisa for 30 days
VISA REQUIRED:
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Equatorial Guinea
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo – hotel reservation is required and the international certificate of vaccination
- Republic of Congo
- South Sudan
East Africa
VISA FREE:
- Mayotte– 90 days within the 180-day period
- Mauritius – 90 days
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Comoros – visa on arrival
- Djibouti – evisa for 31 days – how to apply for Djibouti evisa
- Ethiopia – evisa or visa on arrival which is obtainable at Addis Ababa Bole airport – you can get your evisa here
- Kenya – visa on arrival or evisa for 90 days – get your evisa here
- Madagascar – visa on arrival – read how you can get an evisa online – or apply now
- Malawi – 90 days visa on arrival or evisa – check this guide on how to apply for Malawi visa online or apply here
- Mozambique – visa on arrival for 30 days, conditions apply
- Reunion – 90 days in the 180-day period
- Seychelles – visitor’s permit on arrival 90 days for free and can be extended for up to one year
- Somalia – visa on arrival for 30 days at specific airports
- Tanzania – visa on arrival
- Uganda – visa on arrival or evisa may apply online, get your evisa here
- Zambia – visa on arrival/evisa for 90 days allow access to Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe – visa on arrival/evisa for 90 days, can allow entry to Zambia
VISA REQUIRED:
- Eritrea
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North Africa
FREE VISA:
- Morocco – 90 days
- Tunisia – 120 days
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Egypt – visa on arrival/evisa for 30 days – you can get your evisa here – here’s a guide for filling out Egypt visa application form
VISA REQUIRED:
- Algeria
- Libya
- Sudan
Western Sahara – undefined
South Africa
FREE VISA:
- Botswana – 90 days
- Lesotho – 14 days
- Namibia – 90 days
- South Africa – 90 days
- Swaziland – 30 days
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West Africa
FREE VISA:
- Gambia – international certificate of vaccination required
- Senegal – 90 days international certificate of vaccination required
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Benin – 30 days/8 days visa on arrival or evisa, international certificate of vaccination required
- Burkina Faso – visa on arrival for 30 days
- Cape Verde – evisa for 90 days, must arrive at Port Bouet Airport
- Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) – evisa – APPLY HERE – Ivory Coast visa application guide
- Guinea-Bissau – visa on arrival/evisa for 90 days evisa
- Mauritania – visa on arrival at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport
- Togo – visa on arrival for 7 days
VISA REQUIRED:
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Liberia
- Mali
- Niger – international certificate of vaccination required
- Nigeria – visa can be obtained online
- Sierra Leone – international certificate of vaccination required
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VISA GUIDE FOR AMERICA
Central America
FREE VISA:
- Belize – 30 days, can be extended p to 6 months
- Dominica – 180 days
- Dominican Republic – 90 days
- Costa Rica – 90 days
- El Salvador – 90 days
- Guatemala – 90 days
- Honduras – 90 days
- Nicaragua – 90 days
- Panama – 90 – 180 days
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North America
FREE VISA:
- Mexico – 180 days Tourist Card – you may obtain a Tourist card here
- United States of America – 180 days, the passport must be valid throughout the stay – travelling to the US checklist
South America
FREE VISA:
- Argentina – 90 days
- Aruba – 30 days
- Brazil – 90 days – more tips on things to know before arriving in Brazil
- Bolivia – 30 days when you arrive, can be extended for another 60 days for free
- Chile – 90 days
- Colombia – 90 days, can be extended up to 180 days, a reciprocity fee must be paid upon arrival which is 190,000 COP, must show a yellow fever vaccination record if coming from Brazil
- Cuba – must get Tourist Card
- Curacao – 90 days
- Ecuador – 90 days
- Guyana – 90 days
- Peru – 183
- Uruguay – 90 days
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Falkland Islands – visitor’s permit for 4 weeks will be issued upon arrival
- Paraguay – visa on arrival for 90 days
- Suriname – tourist card on arrival for 90 days must obtain at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport or you can get it online, you can also read our guide
VISA REQUIRED:
- Cuba
- Venezuela
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VISA GUIDE FOR OCEANIA
FREE VISA:
- Fiji – 120 days
- Kiribati – 30 days
- Micronesia – 30 days
- New Zealand – 90 days – must get an Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to arrival starting October 10th 2019
- Vanuatu – 30 days
VISA ON ARRIVAL/EVISA:
- Australia – must apply for an ETA(Electronic Travel Authority) online – valid for a maximum of 90 days for every 365-day period
- Marshall Islands – visa on arrival for 90 days
- Papua New Guinea – visa on arrival for 60 days – read our Papua New Guinea evisa guide or apply now
- Palau – visa on arrival for 30 days
- Samoa – entry permit on arrival for 60 days
- Solomon Islands – visa on arrival for 90 days
- Tonga – visa on arrival for 31 days
- Tuvalu – visa on arrival for 30 days
VISA REQUIRED:
- Nauru
I hope you found this article about visa free for Canadian passport holders useful in planning your next trip. If you have any questions or notice any mistakes, please let me know in the comment section below to help me keep this post updated.
DISCLAIMER
A Mary Road is not responsible for any situation where the reader was denied admittance to the above-listed countries. Please refer to our Disclosure. We advise you to always double-check visa information as they change quite often to avoid any hassles.
Hi Mary,
Unfortunately, there is no more Visa Free to go to Venezuela. So, you need to update this information.
Thanks.
Olga
Hello Olga,
That’s sad to hear. I’ve doubled checked it and you’re right. Thank you so much for bringing this into my attention. I’ve updated the post. Agai, thanks a lot for this new info.
This is such detailed and helpful information. You are doing a service to Canadians 🙂
Hi Sadiq, I’m happy to provide information especially regarding travel visas, as a traveller, I know how frustrating it is to find updated information about this topic as it changes very often! Thanks for kind words, really appreciate it 🙂
Hi Mary, thank you for this very extensive list. I will be travelling to Jordan in April 2020. The tour company is supplying us with our Visas on Arrival (upon arrival in Amman, before we reach passport control, a local tour company representative will provide us with a one-page letter (Visa Manifest)). I notice above that you’ve listed this for Jordan: visa on arrival, conditions apply.
Can you elaborate on the conditions that apply, I’ve seen this listed this way on several other sites, but I’m having difficult finding out what the “conditions” are that apply, and I don’t want to arrive in Jordan to find out I’m missing something and can’t get in!
Thank you so much!
Hello Brenda,
The conditions are referring to the ability to pay the visa fee, having the proof of exit flight ticket, booked accommodations and tours, which will determine how many days the immigration officer will allow you to stay in Jordan. The tour company should be able to help you with the “conditions” and documents to prepare.
I hope this helps.