On February 15, 2026, China confirmed the extension of its unilateral visa-free policy to citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom.
The measure, which will take effect on February 17, 2026, and remain in place through December 31, 2026, will allow holders of ordinary passports from both countries to stay in China without a visa for up to 30 days.
Last month, Canadian and British officials had already indicated that visa-free access for their nationals was progressing smoothly. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally confirmed the decision this weekend.
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that in order “to further facilitate cross-border travel, China decides to, starting from February 17, 2026, extend its visa waiver policy to ordinary passport holders from Canada and the UK.”
Visa-free stays will cover travel for tourism, business, family visits, visits to friends, exchanges, and transit purposes.
Chinese embassies in Ottawa and London outline visa-free entry requirements
China’s diplomatic missions in Ottawa and London quickly provided practical details regarding the implementation of the policy.
In an official notice, the Chinese Embassy in Canada confirmed that the policy will apply “from 00:00 on February 17, 2026, to 24:00 on December 31, 2026 (Beijing time)” and will cover Canadian citizens holding ordinary passports for stays of up to 30 days. The embassy also emphasized that “individuals who do not meet the above visa-free requirements are still required to obtain a visa prior to entering China.”
Similarly, the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom stated that “ordinary passport holders from the UK can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family/friends visit, exchange and transit purposes.” Travelers who do not meet the eligibility criteria will still be required to apply for a visa prior to departure.
47 countries now eligible for visa-free travel to China through December 31, 2026
This confirmation follows the recent official visits to China by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January. The visits were presented as an important step in reviving bilateral dialogue and strengthening economic ties.
With the addition of Canada and the United Kingdom, a total of 47 countries and territories now benefit from a 30-day visa exemption through December 31, 2026.
In addition to the two new entrants, the list includes:
- Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay.
Presented as a temporary measure, the policy, which attracted more than 30 million foreign visitors in 2025, will remain in effect until midnight (Beijing time) on December 31, 2026. At that time, Chinese authorities may decide whether to maintain, adjust, or renew it.
