United Kingdom entry requirements for Chinese citizens

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben across Westminster Bridge, London
Photo: derwiki / Pixabay

Short answerChinese citizens need a visa to visit the United Kingdom. Up to 180 days per visit.

How long you can stay
Up to 180 days per visit.
What you need
  • Valid passport or travel document covering the stay
  • Completed online Standard Visitor visa application
  • Evidence supporting purpose of visit, funds, and intent to leave
Good to know
The People's Republic of China is explicitly listed as a 'visa national' in the UK's Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor Visa National List, meaning standard Chinese passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa before travel (an asterisked exception applies to Hong Kong and Macao SAR passport holders, who do not need a visit visa). gov.uk's Standard Visitor visa page confirms Chinese nationals may usually stay up to 6 months, at a cost of £135, with online applications open from 3 months before travel.

Source GOV.UK - Standard Visitor visaChecked against the source on 2026-09-03

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Informational only — not legal advice. Entry rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history