Overview
- Ordinary passport holders from the United Kingdom and Canada can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges or transit beginning Feb. 17, with the policy running through Dec. 31, 2026.
- The expansion lifts China’s visa-free list to about 79 countries, according to the Associated Press, as part of efforts to boost inbound tourism and commercial exchanges.
- Beijing’s decision followed January visits to China by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where travel facilitation featured in talks with Chinese leaders.
- The United States remains excluded from visa-free entry, leaving it the only Five Eyes member without such access to China.
- Indian citizens are not covered by the waiver, with Beijing instead streamlining applications through an online visa system launched by the Chinese Embassy in India on Dec. 22, 2025.