China has announced visa-free entry for citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom, a measure that took effect on Tuesday and will remain in force until the end of 2026.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China stated that holders of Canadian and British passports will be allowed to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa for business trips, tourism, family visits or exchange activities.
With this decision, the number of countries whose citizens can enter China without a visa rises to 79. The announcement follows the recent visits to China by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
During his meeting with Keir Starmer in Beijing in late January, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a “new chapter” in bilateral relations. For his part, Starmer, the first UK Prime Minister to visit China in eight years, described Sino-British relations as “strong” and advocated for “pragmatic cooperation” despite existing differences.
Mark Carney’s mid-January visit led to significant trade progress. Canada lifted its additional 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, while China significantly reduced its tariffs on Canadian canola.
Beijing began expanding its visa exemption policy in November 2023 in an effort to revive tourism and business travel after nearly three years of strict restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to China’s National Immigration Administration, the country recorded 30.08 million visa-free entries in 2025, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all foreign arrivals, an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2024.
