China 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for UK and Canadian Passport Holders (2026)
Yes. China granted ordinary UK and Canadian passport holders 30-day visa-free entry from February 17, 2026 through December 31, 2026. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the policy on February 15, 2026, bringing the total list of eligible countries to 79. Allowed purposes are tourism, business, family or friend visits, exchange, and transit. Each entry permits a stay of up to 30 days, counted from 00:00 the day after arrival, with multiple entries allowed during the pilot window.
Bring an ordinary passport valid for at least 6 months and a confirmed onward or return ticket within 30 days. Border officers can ask to see proof of accommodation. Diplomatic, official, and emergency passports still need a visa. If you plan to study, work, or stay longer than 30 days, apply for the matching visa class before departure.
One thing to plan for: register your address with the local police within 24 hours of arrival, or have your hotel do it at check-in. Skip this and you risk a fine on departure. The 30-day clock is per entry, not cumulative, so a quick hop to Hong Kong or Bangkok and re-entry resets it.
- 30-day visa-free entry runs February 17 to December 31, 2026 for UK and Canadian ordinary passports.
- Bring a passport valid 6+ months, confirmed onward ticket within 30 days, and hotel address proof.
- Allowed purposes: tourism, business, family visits, exchange, transit; not work or study.
- Register at the local police within 24 hours of arrival, or have your hotel do it at check-in.
- Multiple entries allowed; each stay capped at 30 days, counted from the day after arrival.
How this works
Confirm your passport eligibility
Check your UK or Canadian ordinary passport has at least 6 months validity from your arrival date. Diplomatic, official, and emergency passports do not qualify and still need a visa from a Chinese embassy.
Book onward ticket and hotel
Buy a confirmed return or onward flight within 30 days of arrival. Reserve a hotel for at least the first night. Border officers can ask to see both at the immigration counter on arrival.
Plan arrival within the pilot window
Schedule your entry between February 17 and December 31, 2026. Arriving December 30, 2026 is fine but the entire stay still ends within the visa-free terms; a 30-day stay running past the pilot end may need a visa extension.
Clear immigration and biometrics
Submit fingerprints at the kiosk or counter on arrival. Show the officer your passport, return ticket, and hotel address. Keep the entry stamp readable; you will need the date for your 30-day count.
Register your address within 24 hours
If you check into a licensed hotel, registration is automatic. If you stay at a residence, go with your host to the local police station within 24 hours, passport in hand. Ask for the registration receipt.
Why this is different for foreign visitors
Unlike most countries that publish multi-year visa rules, China runs visa-free entry as annual pilot programs that get extended in batches. The 79-country list expanded across 2024 and 2025, then added the UK and Canada in February 2026. For foreign visitors this means policy can shift mid-year, and the program is currently scheduled to expire December 31, 2026 unless extended. Always confirm against the embassy or consulate website near your departure date rather than older blog posts. The 24-hour police registration rule applies to every foreign visitor regardless of visa status, including those entering visa-free, and licensed hotels handle it automatically.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the 30 days run from arrival; the count starts at 00:00 the day after entry, which gives you one extra calendar day.
- Booking an Airbnb without registering at the police station within 24 hours, then getting fined on departure.
- Travelling on a passport with under 6 months validity and getting refused boarding at your departure airport.
- Skipping the onward ticket because flights are flexible; immigration officers regularly ask to see proof and have refused entry.
Frequently asked
No. The visa-free policy covers tourism, business meetings, family or friend visits, exchange, and transit only. Working, studying for a degree, or reporting as journalists requires the matching visa category applied for in advance at a Chinese embassy or consulate.
No, the hotel does it for you when you check in with your passport. If you stay with friends, in an Airbnb, or any non-hotel address, you or your host must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Bring your passport and the address.
Yes. The 30-day clock applies per entry, and there is no cap on the number of entries during the pilot window. A short trip to Hong Kong, Macau, or another country and re-entry to mainland China starts a fresh 30-day stay, valid through December 31, 2026.
No, you cannot enter visa-free. Border control requires the passport to be valid for at least 6 months on arrival. Renew your passport at home before booking, or apply for a regular tourist visa if your travel dates fall inside the 6-month window.
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