In one of the most eye-catching outcomes of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s four-day visit to Beijing, China has agreed to allow holders of ordinary British passports to enter the mainland visa-free for stays of up to 30 days.
Although Beijing has steadily expanded its unilateral visa-waiver programme to more than 50 countries since late 2023, the United Kingdom had been conspicuously absent—partly because of bilateral tensions over Hong Kong, human-rights sanctions and technology export controls. Starmer’s face-to-face meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang appear to have broken that impasse. According to Chinese officials, the arrangement is unilateral: British travellers will not have to reciprocate with visa-free access for Chinese visitors, making the UK only the second G7 nation (after France) to enjoy the privilege.
For business travellers the policy removes a major irritant. A short-term Chinese business visa typically costs about £151, requires biometrics and can take a week or more to process—deterring many executives from spontaneous trips. Consultancy firm Henley & Partners estimates that more than 122,000 UK business travellers visited China in 2025; the new waiver could expand that pool by 30-40 per cent in 2026, especially for sectors such as finance, legal services and advanced manufacturing that rely on rapid, face-to-face deal-making. Airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which currently operate only a handful of flights to Beijing and Shanghai, are already reviewing schedules to add capacity before the policy’s formal launch (expected before the summer tourism peak once implementing regulations are gazetted).
![China Grants 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to British Citizens]()
For travellers whose purpose or length of stay still falls outside the new 30-day visa-free window, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. From fast-tracked business and student visas to specialist journalist permits, its China desk (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides document checks, appointment scheduling and real-time regulatory updates—making it a handy resource even for waiver-eligible visitors who want an extra layer of certainty.
Tour operators also anticipate a rebound. China National Tourism Administration figures show that just 66,000 British leisure visitors entered the mainland in 2025—barely a quarter of pre-pandemic levels. Removing visa paperwork and fees is expected to revive multi-city itineraries that combine Beijing’s imperial landmarks with Shanghai’s retail scene and Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors. The move could inject an additional ¥3–4 billion (£330-440 million) into China’s hospitality and retail sectors this year, according to Ctrip Research Institute.
Practically, British travellers will still need to carry proof of onward or return travel and accommodation bookings, and the waiver does not apply to paid employment, long-term study or journalism—activities that still require specific permits. UK Foreign Office officials caution that travellers should monitor Chinese embassy channels for the exact commencement date and any Covid-health declarations that may be re-introduced seasonally. Nevertheless, the decision is being hailed by multinational companies as the strongest signal yet that Beijing wants to re-open to high-value visitors after years of pandemic-driven isolation.
Although Beijing has steadily expanded its unilateral visa-waiver programme to more than 50 countries since late 2023, the United Kingdom had been conspicuously absent—partly because of bilateral tensions over Hong Kong, human-rights sanctions and technology export controls. Starmer’s face-to-face meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang appear to have broken that impasse. According to Chinese officials, the arrangement is unilateral: British travellers will not have to reciprocate with visa-free access for Chinese visitors, making the UK only the second G7 nation (after France) to enjoy the privilege.
For business travellers the policy removes a major irritant. A short-term Chinese business visa typically costs about £151, requires biometrics and can take a week or more to process—deterring many executives from spontaneous trips. Consultancy firm Henley & Partners estimates that more than 122,000 UK business travellers visited China in 2025; the new waiver could expand that pool by 30-40 per cent in 2026, especially for sectors such as finance, legal services and advanced manufacturing that rely on rapid, face-to-face deal-making. Airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which currently operate only a handful of flights to Beijing and Shanghai, are already reviewing schedules to add capacity before the policy’s formal launch (expected before the summer tourism peak once implementing regulations are gazetted).
For travellers whose purpose or length of stay still falls outside the new 30-day visa-free window, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. From fast-tracked business and student visas to specialist journalist permits, its China desk (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides document checks, appointment scheduling and real-time regulatory updates—making it a handy resource even for waiver-eligible visitors who want an extra layer of certainty.
Tour operators also anticipate a rebound. China National Tourism Administration figures show that just 66,000 British leisure visitors entered the mainland in 2025—barely a quarter of pre-pandemic levels. Removing visa paperwork and fees is expected to revive multi-city itineraries that combine Beijing’s imperial landmarks with Shanghai’s retail scene and Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors. The move could inject an additional ¥3–4 billion (£330-440 million) into China’s hospitality and retail sectors this year, according to Ctrip Research Institute.
Practically, British travellers will still need to carry proof of onward or return travel and accommodation bookings, and the waiver does not apply to paid employment, long-term study or journalism—activities that still require specific permits. UK Foreign Office officials caution that travellers should monitor Chinese embassy channels for the exact commencement date and any Covid-health declarations that may be re-introduced seasonally. Nevertheless, the decision is being hailed by multinational companies as the strongest signal yet that Beijing wants to re-open to high-value visitors after years of pandemic-driven isolation.
