Do I need an M-visa as a Canadian citizen?

Yes — for inpatient or surgical care in mainland China, Canadian citizens require an M (medical) visa. Apply via Chinese consulate Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal; standard processing 4–8 business days. Hong Kong is visa-free for Canadian passport holders up to 90 days. We provide the hospital invitation letter and support the application. Companion / spouse visa is M-visa with relationship documentation.

Will OHIP / RAMQ / MSP reimburse?

Provincial health plans generally cover only out-of-country emergency / urgent care at the in-province rate (typically 5–25% of US / international actual cost), and elective treatment abroad is not covered. Some employer / faculty / association extended benefits do cover international elective care — confirm in writing before travel. We provide bilingual receipts and OHIP / RAMQ-mapped diagnostic codes for any reimbursement claim.

What about Canadian waitlists?

Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) 2024 data: hip replacement median wait 175 days (benchmark 182); knee replacement 220 days (benchmark 182); cataract 86 days (benchmark 112); MRI 49 days (benchmark 90); CABG 25 days. Provincial variance is large — Ontario, BC and Alberta typically meet benchmarks; Atlantic provinces often exceed by 50–100%. Private clinics in Quebec are limited and charge near-Canadian-public-rate; most provinces do not allow private elective replacement.

What about flight options from Canada?

Direct flights: YVR ↔ PEK / PVG / CAN / HKG (Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Air China); YYZ ↔ PEK / PVG / HKG (Air Canada, Cathay Pacific); YUL ↔ PVG (Air Canada). Typical 11–14 hours westbound, 13–14 hours eastbound. Compression stockings, hydration and walking every 90 minutes are standard. For post-op return travel, surgeon clearance required.

Can I claim treatment expense on my taxes?

Yes — the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) under the Canadian Income Tax Act §118.2 allows tax credit for qualifying medical expenses incurred outside Canada, including travel and accommodation under specific conditions. Receipts must be itemized and translated; the procedure must be one that would qualify if performed in Canada. Cosmetic procedures are excluded. Confirm with your accountant before relying on this.

What about prescriptions and Health Canada drugs?

Most major drug classes used at top centres in China are Health Canada / FDA approved or are biosimilars / generics. NMPA-listed pricing is often substantially lower than Canadian (especially for biologics: trastuzumab biosimilar, adalimumab biosimilar, etc.). Long-term continuity in Canada requires a Canadian provider's prescription based on the bilingual treatment summary; some agents may be on provincial formularies at very different prices than Chinese list price.

From Canada · 2026

Medical tourism from Canada
to China — beat the waitlist.

M-visa via Chinese consulates, CAD-quoted itemized costs, alternatives to Canadian waitlists for hip, knee, MRI and cataract, and direct flights from YVR, YYZ and YUL to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Get a written quote See popular procedures

M-visa

Required

Apply through Chinese consulate Toronto / Vancouver / Calgary / Montreal

Chinese MOFA

11–14 hr

Direct flight

YVR / YYZ / YUL to PEK / PVG / CAN / HKG

Airline schedules

30–60%

Savings vs CA private

Significant savings on cardiac, IVF, oncology, complex surgery

Industry data 2024

CAD

Quotes

Itemized in CAD with USD / CNY equivalent

Service standard

OHIP / RAMQ

Limited reimbursement

Out-of-country emergency only; elective treatment not covered

Provincial policy

Wait times

Major motivator

CIHI 2024: hip / knee / MRI / cataract waits routinely 6–12+ months

CIHI 2024

Tiers & pricing

Six tiers, transparent pricing.

Wait beater

Hip / knee replacement

Canadian benchmark wait 26 weeks; many provinces breach. China: 2-week trip from $8–14k.

From $8,000

Same-week

MRI / advanced imaging

Canadian wait 50–120+ days for MRI; China same-day to 1 week. Useful for orthopedic and oncology.

From $350

Day-case

Cataract surgery

Canadian benchmark 16 weeks. Premium IOL not covered. China: same-week with multifocal IOL.

From $1,800 / eye

Specialist

Cardiac surgery

CABG, TAVR, valve at Fuwai. Canadian private CABG largely unavailable; OHIP CABG long-wait for non-urgent.

From $18,000

If eligible

IVF / fertility

PRC ART regulations apply (married heterosexual couples only). Single / same-sex options differ.

From $5,500

Best savings

Dental tourism

Implants, all-on-4, Invisalign at 60–80% off Canadian dental.

From $1,000 / implant

Top hospitals

Six centres
open to international patients.

Beijing

PUMC International + Fuwai + Tiantan + Beijing United Family

Beijing's flagship cluster · cardiac + neurosurgery + JCI primary care

Shanghai

Zhongshan + Ruijin + Fudan Cancer + Shanghai United Family

Shanghai's flagship cluster · hepatobiliary + endocrinology + oncology

Hong Kong

HKSH, HK Adventist, Matilda, Gleneagles HK

Visa-free for CA passports up to 90 days · CAD / USD / HKD-friendly

Multi-city

United Family Hospitals 和睦家

JCI · expat-focused · English-first · Canadian patient familiarity

Guangzhou

Sun Yat-sen Memorial + Sun Yat-sen Cancer

Southern China gateway from Vancouver / Hong Kong

Chengdu

West China Hospital

China's largest single-site hospital · large international fellowship base

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Do I need an M-visa as a Canadian citizen?: Yes — for inpatient or surgical care in mainland China, Canadian citizens require an M (medical) visa. Apply via Chinese consulate Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal; standard processing 4–8 business days. Hong Kong is visa-free for Canadian passport holders up to 90 days. We provide the hospital invitation letter and support the application. Companion / spouse visa is M-visa with relationship documentation.
Will OHIP / RAMQ / MSP reimburse?: Provincial health plans generally cover only out-of-country emergency / urgent care at the in-province rate (typically 5–25% of US / international actual cost), and elective treatment abroad is not covered. Some employer / faculty / association extended benefits do cover international elective care — confirm in writing before travel. We provide bilingual receipts and OHIP / RAMQ-mapped diagnostic codes for any reimbursement claim.
What about Canadian waitlists?: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) 2024 data: hip replacement median wait 175 days (benchmark 182); knee replacement 220 days (benchmark 182); cataract 86 days (benchmark 112); MRI 49 days (benchmark 90); CABG 25 days. Provincial variance is large — Ontario, BC and Alberta typically meet benchmarks; Atlantic provinces often exceed by 50–100%. Private clinics in Quebec are limited and charge near-Canadian-public-rate; most provinces do not allow private elective replacement.
What about flight options from Canada?: Direct flights: YVR ↔ PEK / PVG / CAN / HKG (Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Air China); YYZ ↔ PEK / PVG / HKG (Air Canada, Cathay Pacific); YUL ↔ PVG (Air Canada). Typical 11–14 hours westbound, 13–14 hours eastbound. Compression stockings, hydration and walking every 90 minutes are standard. For post-op return travel, surgeon clearance required.
Can I claim treatment expense on my taxes?: Yes — the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) under the Canadian Income Tax Act §118.2 allows tax credit for qualifying medical expenses incurred outside Canada, including travel and accommodation under specific conditions. Receipts must be itemized and translated; the procedure must be one that would qualify if performed in Canada. Cosmetic procedures are excluded. Confirm with your accountant before relying on this.
What about prescriptions and Health Canada drugs?: Most major drug classes used at top centres in China are Health Canada / FDA approved or are biosimilars / generics. NMPA-listed pricing is often substantially lower than Canadian (especially for biologics: trastuzumab biosimilar, adalimumab biosimilar, etc.). Long-term continuity in Canada requires a Canadian provider's prescription based on the bilingual treatment summary; some agents may be on provincial formularies at very different prices than Chinese list price.

Related guides

M-Visa Guide

Step-by-step application for the Canadian Chinese consulates.

Read the guide

Cost Comparison

China vs Canada vs other destinations across 25+ procedures.

Read the guide

Best Hospitals

Top 15 ranked centres for international patients.

Read the guide

Second Opinion

Written second opinion useful for Canadian rural / remote patients.

Read the guide

Travel Checklist

60+ items across 7 stages of pre-departure prep.

Read the guide

Insurance Claims

How to file with provincial / extended benefits / international carriers.

Read the guide

Want a CAD-perspective quote
in 5 days?

Tell us your procedure of interest and travel window. We return CAD-itemized written quotes from two partner hospitals — including CIHI / METC-mapped receipt format for any reimbursement or tax claim.

Request a quote See cost comparison

This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical, tax or visa advice. Provincial coverage rules vary widely; confirm with your provincial plan, extended benefits and accountant before travel.

Medical tourism from Canadato China — beat the waitlist.

Six tiers, transparent pricing.

Hip / knee replacement

MRI / advanced imaging

Cataract surgery

Cardiac surgery

IVF / fertility

Dental tourism

Six centresopen to international patients.

PUMC International + Fuwai + Tiantan + Beijing United Family

Zhongshan + Ruijin + Fudan Cancer + Shanghai United Family

HKSH, HK Adventist, Matilda, Gleneagles HK

United Family Hospitals 和睦家

Sun Yat-sen Memorial + Sun Yat-sen Cancer

West China Hospital

Frequently asked questions.

Related guides

M-Visa Guide

Cost Comparison

Best Hospitals

Second Opinion

Travel Checklist

Insurance Claims

Want a CAD-perspective quotein 5 days?

Medical tourism from Canada
to China — beat the waitlist.

Six centres
open to international patients.

Want a CAD-perspective quote
in 5 days?