China has given business travellers and tourists from Europe and key English-speaking markets another 10-month window of friction-free access. At a briefing first reported on 2 March 2026, the National Immigration Administration confirmed that the country’s unilateral 30-day visa-free entry scheme—originally due to lapse on 31 March—has been prolonged until 23:59 on 31 December 2026. The extension covers all 27 EU member states, the United Kingdom and Canada, bringing the total number of eligible countries to 50. The programme, launched as a pilot in late-2024 and steadily widened, allows ordinary-passport holders to enter mainland China for tourism, business meetings, family visits or transit without first visiting a consulate. Travellers must hold a passport valid for six months beyond departure, complete arrival health and customs declarations, and register with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours (normally handled automatically by hotels). Overstays incur fines of ¥500 per day and possible multi-year entry bans.
![China Extends 30-Day Visa-Free Entry For EU, UK & Canada Nationals Until Year-End 2026]()
Keeping track of evolving entry rules can be daunting, but specialist agencies like VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its dedicated China team (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides up-to-date guidance, helps assemble any supporting paperwork and can still arrange conventional visas for travellers who need longer stays or activities outside the 30-day waiver—offering peace of mind for both individuals and corporate travel managers.
For corporates the policy slashes both cost and lead time. A short-stay multiple-entry M-visa for a UK national currently costs £151 and takes three to five working days; that barrier has now disappeared for trips of up to 30 days. EU chambers of commerce say after-sales engineers and regional sales teams are again flying in at 2019 volumes, particularly to the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta manufacturing belts. Lufthansa and Air France have already announced capacity additions for summer 2026, while Chinese carriers are pushing free multi-day stopovers to stimulate connecting traffic. Analysts caution that the wording “temporary measure” remains. Officials will evaluate “border security and socio-economic impact” before deciding whether to codify the waiver in the next immigration law revision slated for 2027. Travellers planning fourth-quarter visits are therefore advised to book early and monitor for further policy signals. In the meantime, companies should update mobility policies: brief staff on the non-extendable 30-day limit, ensure travel-medical insurance is in place, and remind employees that the scheme does not permit employment activities or long-term study. Failure to comply could jeopardise future market access just as China’s post-pandemic rebound gathers pace.
Keeping track of evolving entry rules can be daunting, but specialist agencies like VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its dedicated China team (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides up-to-date guidance, helps assemble any supporting paperwork and can still arrange conventional visas for travellers who need longer stays or activities outside the 30-day waiver—offering peace of mind for both individuals and corporate travel managers.
For corporates the policy slashes both cost and lead time. A short-stay multiple-entry M-visa for a UK national currently costs £151 and takes three to five working days; that barrier has now disappeared for trips of up to 30 days. EU chambers of commerce say after-sales engineers and regional sales teams are again flying in at 2019 volumes, particularly to the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta manufacturing belts. Lufthansa and Air France have already announced capacity additions for summer 2026, while Chinese carriers are pushing free multi-day stopovers to stimulate connecting traffic. Analysts caution that the wording “temporary measure” remains. Officials will evaluate “border security and socio-economic impact” before deciding whether to codify the waiver in the next immigration law revision slated for 2027. Travellers planning fourth-quarter visits are therefore advised to book early and monitor for further policy signals. In the meantime, companies should update mobility policies: brief staff on the non-extendable 30-day limit, ensure travel-medical insurance is in place, and remind employees that the scheme does not permit employment activities or long-term study. Failure to comply could jeopardise future market access just as China’s post-pandemic rebound gathers pace.
