China may soon grant visa-free entry to British citizens for short stays.
The prospect was raised during the official visit to Beijing by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a trip marked by renewed diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries after several years of cooler relations.
At their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed their shared intention to build a “long-term, stable, and comprehensive” strategic partnership.
In this context, the Chinese president stated that Beijing was willing to “actively consider implementing unilateral visa-free access for the UK.”
The proposed measure is intended to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, an objective emphasized by Xi Jinping as a way to strengthen mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation.
Visa-free stays in China for up to 30 days for British nationals
On the British side, the government said that “today’s agreements will also see China relax visa rules for British citizens.”
According to London, this change would “ending the requirement for travel under 30 days” and “bringing the UK into line with 50 other countries,” including France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan.
The UK government specified that the measure would mean that “people visiting China on business – as well as tourism – will be able to visit China visa-free.” Officials see it as a way to facilitate short-term travel and support economic and commercial exchanges between the two countries.
Visa policy is a key concern for British companies operating in the Chinese market. The delegation accompanying Keir Starmer to Beijing included more than sixty representatives from the business, industrial, and cultural sectors, underscoring the importance attached to reviving trade relations.
A proposal under consideration, with no set timeline
For London, easing entry requirements to China is expected to support the expansion of British companies, particularly in the financial, legal, healthcare, education, and professional services sectors.
The UK government believes that the measures announced today, including simplified travel procedures, will help strengthen the £13 billion worth of services exported to China each year.
Since late 2023, China has gradually expanded its visa-free policy to several countries, aiming to boost economic exchanges, tourism, and interpersonal contacts following pandemic-related restrictions.
The possible inclusion of the United Kingdom would fit within this targeted opening strategy, while also carrying particular diplomatic significance given London’s status as a major economic power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
At this stage, neither Beijing nor London has announced a specific timeline for the implementation of the visa exemption. Chinese authorities have indicated that the measure is under active review, while the British government has presented the announcement as a concrete outcome of the agreements reached during the visit.
This cautious approach to timing is not unique to the UK. A few days earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reported a similar announcement following a visit to China, referring to a possible easing of visa rules for Canadian citizens, again without official confirmation or a timetable from Beijing.
If implemented, the move would mark a significant step in the normalization and revitalization of Sino-British relations, facilitating the movement of people at the heart of economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges between the two countries.
