JAKARTA - Canada eased air-entry rules for eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia on May 26 at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time, allowing some citizens from both countries to apply for an electronic travel authorization instead of a temporary resident visa when flying to or transiting through Canada.
The office of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the change in Ottawa on May 25. The change applies to Indonesian and Malaysian citizens who have held a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa. People who already have a valid Canadian temporary resident visa can continue using it to travel to Canada.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said, “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.”
The electronic travel authorization is used by Canadian officials for pre-travel screening of air travellers. Canada’s official eTA page says the application costs CAN$7 and requires a valid passport, a credit or debit card, an email address and answers to online questions.
Canada said Indonesia was its third-largest merchandise trading partner among Southeast Asian countries in 2025, with bilateral merchandise trade totalling $6.75 billion. Canadian merchandise exports to Indonesia were valued at $3 billion, making Indonesia Canada’s second-largest export market in Southeast Asia and its 17th-largest worldwide.
Canada also described Malaysia as one of its largest bilateral merchandise trading partners in Southeast Asia. Bilateral trade with Malaysia rose from $3.8 billion in 2020 to $6.1 billion in 2025. Canada welcomed about 18,300 visitors from Indonesia and 11,500 visitors from Malaysia in 2025.
The policy does not write off visa requirements for all Indonesians and Malaysians. A temporary resident visa or eTA also does not guarantee entry to Canada, and all travellers remain subject to screening and admissibility checks at the border.
