China has significantly expanded eligibility for this program over the past two years. file | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
British and Canadian citizens can enter China without a visa from Tuesday (Feb 17, 2026), bringing the number of countries granted visa-free access to 79 in a bid to boost tourism and business.
China has significantly expanded eligibility for this program over the past two years. Visitors can stay up to 30 days for business, tourism, exchange programs and visiting family and friends.
Most Europeans qualify for visa-free entry, along with a few select countries in other regions, including Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Citizens of some other countries, including the United States and Indonesia, can enter for 10 days if they are in transit — meaning they have a ticket to a country other than the one they came from.
Business executives and tourists welcome the change, as the China visa application process is relatively cumbersome.
The UK and Canada were added after their prime ministers, Keir Starmer and Mark Carney, visited China last month. Both are relatively new leaders trying to restore ties with Beijing after a setback in recent years. For most countries, visa-free access ends at the end of this year, but it has been extended in the past.
Published – February 16, 2026 04:30 pm IST
