On 27 January, the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom issued a pre-holiday bulletin reminding Chinese residents and would-be visitors to study the UK’s new electronic-visa (eVisa) regime, which formally enters service on 28 January 2026. Under the change, all airlines, ferry operators and other transport providers must electronically verify every passenger’s visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation with the UK Home Office before boarding. While travellers holding valid visa vignettes issued before the switch-over may continue to use them, future applicants will receive only a digital authorisation linked to their passport.
The embassy urges travellers to check passport validity, apply early for the correct visa category and ensure that ticket names exactly match travel documents to avoid being denied boarding. It also warns that overstaying a visitor visa—defined as spending more than 180 days in the UK within any 12-month period—can trigger removal or future entry bans.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or managing repeat business travel, VisaHQ can simplify the shift to digital authorisations by handling UK visa applications end-to-end, alerting you to documentation gaps and tracking real-time status updates; Chinese nationals can start the process at https://www.visahq.com/china/
![Chinese Embassy in London flags UK e-Visa rollout and tighter boarding checks from 28 January]()
Beyond immigration formalities, the notice highlights a rise in pick-pocketing, vehicle-based theft and fraud schemes that target Chinese tourists in busy retail districts, transport hubs and Airbnb rentals. Travellers are advised to keep copies of passports separate from originals, avoid late-night outings in poorly lit areas and use official channels for currency exchange. Consular hotlines are provided for emergencies.
For Chinese companies with UK subsidiaries or project teams, the transition to eVisas means HR departments must update invitation-letter templates, onboarding checklists and travel-approval workflows. Digital status letters generated by the UK’s “View and Prove” system will now be required for accommodation, right-to-work checks and bank-account openings. Mobility managers should brief employees on the new pre-departure carrier checks, which will likely lengthen airport dwell times in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong during the learning curve.
The embassy’s early warning offers a window to audit traveller profiles and ensure that frequent flyers download the UK government’s status-checker app before boarding their first post-28 January flight.
The embassy urges travellers to check passport validity, apply early for the correct visa category and ensure that ticket names exactly match travel documents to avoid being denied boarding. It also warns that overstaying a visitor visa—defined as spending more than 180 days in the UK within any 12-month period—can trigger removal or future entry bans.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or managing repeat business travel, VisaHQ can simplify the shift to digital authorisations by handling UK visa applications end-to-end, alerting you to documentation gaps and tracking real-time status updates; Chinese nationals can start the process at https://www.visahq.com/china/
Beyond immigration formalities, the notice highlights a rise in pick-pocketing, vehicle-based theft and fraud schemes that target Chinese tourists in busy retail districts, transport hubs and Airbnb rentals. Travellers are advised to keep copies of passports separate from originals, avoid late-night outings in poorly lit areas and use official channels for currency exchange. Consular hotlines are provided for emergencies.
For Chinese companies with UK subsidiaries or project teams, the transition to eVisas means HR departments must update invitation-letter templates, onboarding checklists and travel-approval workflows. Digital status letters generated by the UK’s “View and Prove” system will now be required for accommodation, right-to-work checks and bank-account openings. Mobility managers should brief employees on the new pre-departure carrier checks, which will likely lengthen airport dwell times in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong during the learning curve.
The embassy’s early warning offers a window to audit traveller profiles and ensure that frequent flyers download the UK government’s status-checker app before boarding their first post-28 January flight.
