China will allow British citizens to travel visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, the UK government has confirmed, marking a significant shift in travel rules between the two countries.
The announcement followed talks in Beijing between UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Chinese president Xi Jinping, making Starmer the first British leader to visit China in eight years. While no official start date has yet been confirmed, Downing Street said it hopes the policy will come into force “as soon as possible”.
The move is expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of travellers. According to the Office for National Statistics, around 620,000 British residents travelled to China in 2024. Visa-free access would place the UK alongside around 50 other countries already granted similar entry, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan.
Sir Keir said the agreement would make it easier for UK businesses to expand in one of the world’s largest economies, while also opening the door to simpler leisure travel. “As one of the world’s economic powerhouses, businesses have been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China,” he said. “We’ll make it easier for them to do so, including via relaxed visa rules for short-term travel, while boosting growth and jobs at home.”
The Beijing visit also delivered a trade concession, with China agreeing to cut import taxes on UK whisky from 10 per cent to five per cent, part of a broader effort to strengthen economic ties. However, critics have cautioned that closer engagement with China carries risks linked to national security and human rights.
The travel sector has welcomed the announcement, predicting a rapid rise in demand once the policy takes effect. Fred Fishlock, UK country head at Trip.com, described visa-free access as “one of the strongest catalysts for travel demand”.
“Removing the need to apply for a visa makes planning a trip simpler, faster and more affordable, especially for first-time visitors,” he said. “It gives people greater confidence to book.”
Trip.com pointed to clear evidence from previous policy changes. After China introduced visa-free travel for several European countries in late 2023, interest in visiting China rose by 74 per cent in the following five weeks across markets including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. Over the next 12 months, interest remained 88 per cent higher, while flight bookings from those countries increased by 50 per cent.
“These changes reduce friction, encourage earlier booking behaviour and unlock travel around key moments such as public holidays and cultural celebrations, including Lunar New Year,” Fishlock added. “We expect a similar pattern from the UK, supporting airline capacity recovery and encouraging longer stays.”
For UK travellers, the visa waiver represents a meaningful reduction in cost and complexity for long-haul trips to China, particularly for leisure visitors and SMEs exploring the market for the first time. For airlines and tour operators, it offers the prospect of renewed momentum on UK–China routes after several challenging years.
If implemented swiftly, the policy could mark a turning point for bilateral travel flows, and signal a broader reopening of one of Asia’s most important markets to British visitors.