China has taken another high-profile step to revive inbound travel and business exchanges by adding Canada and the United Kingdom to its fast-growing unilateral visa-free programme. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs notice confirmed that, as of 00:00 on 17 February 2026, ordinary passport holders from the two countries may enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business meetings, family visits, cultural exchanges or simple transit.
The measure—initially in force until 31 December 2026—brings the total number of countries enjoying visa-free access to 50, according to Chinese officials, and as many as 79 if mutual-exemption agreements and short-stay transit programmes are included. It follows back-to-back visits to Beijing by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this month, where both leaders pressed for easier market access for companies and students.
For mobility managers the change is significant. Canadian and British assignees can now conduct scoping visits, attend trade fairs, or set up short-term project teams without the lead-time (and roughly C$180/£151 fee) previously required for an M- or F-class visa. Importantly, stays cannot exceed 30 consecutive days, paid employment remains prohibited, and travellers must still carry proof of onward travel plus six months’ passport validity. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has clarified that multiple entries are allowed during the 10-month window, provided each visit stays within the 30-day limit.
![China Adds Canada and UK to 30-Day Visa-Free Entry List]()
For trips that fall outside the new waiver—such as paid assignments, internships or stays exceeding 30 days—VisaHQ can take the administrative burden off both travellers and HR teams. Its China desk (https://www.visahq.com/china/) consolidates the latest consular rules, generates application kits for every visa category and offers courier support, helping companies stay compliant whenever the visa-free option does not apply.
Airlines are already responding. Data from OAG show a 42 % week-on-week jump in seat capacity on UK–China routes and a 55 % increase on Canada–China services for March schedules. Travel platforms Trip.com and Fliggy both report three-fold spikes in search volumes for Shanghai and Beijing originating from London and Toronto since the announcement.
Corporate travel buyers should update booking tools immediately, revise pre-trip approval workflows to remove visa-cost line items for eligible trips, and remind travellers that work activities beyond meetings—such as hands-on technical support—still require the Z-visa/work-permit route. HR teams should also monitor whether Beijing chooses to extend the pilot beyond December, as past unilateral waivers for France, Germany and Italy have been renewed repeatedly.
The measure—initially in force until 31 December 2026—brings the total number of countries enjoying visa-free access to 50, according to Chinese officials, and as many as 79 if mutual-exemption agreements and short-stay transit programmes are included. It follows back-to-back visits to Beijing by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this month, where both leaders pressed for easier market access for companies and students.
For mobility managers the change is significant. Canadian and British assignees can now conduct scoping visits, attend trade fairs, or set up short-term project teams without the lead-time (and roughly C$180/£151 fee) previously required for an M- or F-class visa. Importantly, stays cannot exceed 30 consecutive days, paid employment remains prohibited, and travellers must still carry proof of onward travel plus six months’ passport validity. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has clarified that multiple entries are allowed during the 10-month window, provided each visit stays within the 30-day limit.
For trips that fall outside the new waiver—such as paid assignments, internships or stays exceeding 30 days—VisaHQ can take the administrative burden off both travellers and HR teams. Its China desk (https://www.visahq.com/china/) consolidates the latest consular rules, generates application kits for every visa category and offers courier support, helping companies stay compliant whenever the visa-free option does not apply.
Airlines are already responding. Data from OAG show a 42 % week-on-week jump in seat capacity on UK–China routes and a 55 % increase on Canada–China services for March schedules. Travel platforms Trip.com and Fliggy both report three-fold spikes in search volumes for Shanghai and Beijing originating from London and Toronto since the announcement.
Corporate travel buyers should update booking tools immediately, revise pre-trip approval workflows to remove visa-cost line items for eligible trips, and remind travellers that work activities beyond meetings—such as hands-on technical support—still require the Z-visa/work-permit route. HR teams should also monitor whether Beijing chooses to extend the pilot beyond December, as past unilateral waivers for France, Germany and Italy have been renewed repeatedly.
