UK and Canadian Citizens Granted 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to China

Citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada will be allowed to travel to mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days starting Tuesday.

China’s Foreign Ministry announced that visa-free entry will be permitted for tourism, business, family or friend visits, exchanges, or transit purposes. The policy will remain in effect until December 31, 2026.

The move follows recent high-level visits. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China in January 2026. During their visit, they met Chinese President Xi Jinping and agreed to ease travel regulations.

However, critics have accused their governments of overlooking human rights and national security concerns in efforts to improve relations with Beijing.

On Sunday, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that the plan would “further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.”