China to Grant Visa-Free Entry to UK & Canada Passport Holders
- Starting February 17, 2026, China will allow citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 30 days,...
- The policy applies to ordinary passport holders and permits entry for a range of purposes, including business, tourism, visits to family and friends, exchange programs, and transit.
- The announcement follows a visit to China by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last month, during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to relax travel...
China to Waive Visas for Canadian and British Nationals
Starting , China will allow citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on .
The policy applies to ordinary passport holders and permits entry for a range of purposes, including business, tourism, visits to family and friends, exchange programs, and transit. This move aims to “further facilitate cross-border travel,” the ministry stated.
The visa-free policy will remain in effect until .
The announcement follows a visit to China by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last month, during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to relax travel rules between the two nations. Starmer reportedly stated that the agreement would ease the path for British businesses seeking to expand operations in China.
While welcomed by business leaders, the move to improve relations with China has faced some criticism, with concerns raised regarding human rights and national security.
China’s foreign ministry emphasized that the new policy is intended to “further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.” The change brings visa regulations for Canadian and British passport holders in line with those already in place for citizens of approximately 50 other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan.
Approximately 620,000 British nationals traveled to China in 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics, suggesting a potentially significant number of individuals could benefit from the relaxed visa requirements. During his January visit, Sir Keir noted that British businesses had been “crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China.”
In addition to easing travel restrictions, Xi and Starmer also discussed deepening trade relations in key sectors such as services, healthcare, green technology, and finance, although a comprehensive free trade agreement was not announced.