China entry requirements for UK citizens
Short answerUK citizens can visit China without a visa. Up to 30 days per visit.
- How long you can stay
- Up to 30 days per visit.
- What you need
- Valid ordinary (British citizen) passport
- Proof of onward/return travel (may be requested by airline or border control)
- Proof of accommodation or travel itinerary (may be requested by border control)
- Good to know
- The United Kingdom is on China's unilateral visa-free list (NIA list dated 2026-02-17). Ordinary-passport holders entering for business, tourism, family or friend visits, exchange visits or transit may stay up to 30 days without a visa; the stay is counted from 00:00 the day after entry. Work, study and journalism need the corresponding visa. Time-limited: China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs FAQ on the unilateral visa-free policy states it remains in effect until 31 December 2026 for this group of countries (the NIA list itself gives no end date).
Source National Immigration Administration of China (NIA) — List of Countries with Unilateral Visa-Free Policy; MFA Consular Department — FAQs on Visa-free Entry into China (end date 2026-12-31)Checked against the source on 2026-10-05
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China for other passports
- Argentinavisa-free short stay
- Australiavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa-free short stay
- Canadavisa-free short stay
- Chilevisa-free short stay
- Francevisa-free short stay
- Germanyvisa-free short stay
- Indiavisa required
- Israelvisa required
- Italyvisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa required
- Netherlandsvisa-free short stay
- New Zealandvisa-free short stay
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Koreavisa-free short stay
- Spainvisa-free short stay
- Ukrainevisa required
- United Statesvisa required
Other destinations for UK citizens
- Albaniavisa-free short stay
- Argentinavisa-free short stay
- Armeniavisa-free short stay
- Australiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Bahamasvisa-free short stay
- Bosnia and Herzegovinavisa-free short stay
- Brazilvisa-free short stay
- Cambodiavisa on arrival
- Canadaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Chilevisa-free short stay
- Colombiavisa-free short stay
- Costa Ricavisa-free short stay
- Cyprusvisa-free short stay
- Dominican Republicvisa-free short stay
- Ecuadorvisa-free short stay
- Egyptvisa on arrival
- Fijivisa-free short stay
- Georgiavisa-free short stay
- Ghanavisa required
- Hong Kongvisa-free short stay
- Indiaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Indonesiavisa on arrival
- Israelelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Jamaicavisa-free short stay
- Japanvisa-free short stay
- Jordanvisa on arrival
- Kenyaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Macaovisa-free short stay
- Malaysiavisa-free short stay
- Maldivesvisa on arrival
- Mauritiusvisa-free short stay
- Mexicovisa-free short stay
- Mongoliavisa-free short stay
- Montenegrovisa-free short stay
- Moroccovisa-free short stay
- New Zealandelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Nigeriavisa required
- Peruvisa-free short stay
- Philippinesvisa-free short stay
- Qatarvisa-free short stay
- Rwandavisa on arrival
- Saudi Arabiavisa on arrival
- Serbiavisa-free short stay
- Seychelleselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Singaporevisa-free short stay
- South Africavisa-free short stay
- South Koreaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Sri Lankaelectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Taiwanvisa-free short stay
- Tanzaniavisa on arrival
- Thailandvisa-free short stay
- Turkeyvisa-free short stay
- United Arab Emiratesvisa-free short stay
- United Stateselectronic travel authorisation (ETA) required
- Uruguayvisa-free short stay
- Uzbekistanvisa-free short stay
- Vietnamvisa-free short stay
- Zambiavisa-free short stay
- Zimbabwevisa on arrival
Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history