British citizens will soon be granted visa-free entry into China for short-term travel, the UK government confirmed on Thursday (29 January).
The agreement to relax visa rules was announced as part of UK prime minister Kier Starmer’s visit to Beijing this week to bolster economic ties and “grow partnerships across government and business”.
British citizens currently require a visa to visit mainland China. The move brings the UK into line with 50 other countries – including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan – whose citizens can visit China for up to 30 days without a visa.
The government did not state when the change will come into effect, but expects it will boost business travel between the two countries.
“As one of the world’s economic powerhouses, businesses have been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China,” Starmer said in a statement.
“We’ll make it easier for them to do so – including via relaxed visa rules for short-term travel – supporting them to expand abroad, all while boosting growth and jobs at home.”
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of UK-based TMC consortium Advantage Travel Partnership, said travel between the UK and China has seen a “robust resurgence” over the last two years, fuelled by restored flight connectivity and strengthening commercial relations.
She welcomed the move as “a significant milestone that will undoubtedly accelerate this momentum across both leisure and business travel”.
Business Travel Association CEO Clive Wratten also applauded the announcement, stating “changes like this make international travel for work simpler and more efficient overall”.
“China is, and will continue to be, a hugely important destination for UK business. Removing the visa requirement reduces costs and makes it far easier for UK companies to send people out at short notice,” he added.