Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesByAdam GoldsmithPublished15 February 2026 UK and Canadian nationals will be able to travel to mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa from 17 February. China's foreign ministry said visa-free entry would be permitted for tourism, business or visits to family and friends, with the policy set to stay in effect initially until 31 December. It follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official visit to China last month, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed travel rules would be relaxed. Sir Keir said the agreement would make it easier for businesses to expand to China, though critics say Downing Street's push to reset relations with Beijing overlooks human rights and national security concerns. Announcing the policy's start date on Sunday, China's foreign ministry said the scheme would "further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries".
Published: February 15, 2026 12:08 pm
Source: BBC — Read original