UK and Canadian ordinary-passport holders can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days between 17 February and 31 December 2026, according to the Chinese Embassy’s notice of 15 February 2026. A Chinese consulate FAQ lists 50 countries in all and does not list the United States. Travellers from 57 countries, including the United States, may also use 240-hour visa-free transit with an onward ticket.
LiveEntry rules change. See the visa-free entry rules, checked 9 November 2026 →
Who can enter visa-free in 2026?
The Chinese Embassy in the UK published a notice on 15 February 2026. It says ordinary-passport holders from the UK and Canada can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange and transit, for up to 30 days. The policy took effect at 00:00 on 17 February 2026 and runs until 24:00 on 31 December 2026, Beijing time.
A Chinese consulate in Chicago publishes a longer FAQ, dated 6 May 2026. It lists 50 countries. Among them are Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada and the UK. The United States is not on that list as we read it.
| Passport | Stay | In effect until | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (ordinary) | 30 days | 31 Dec 2026 | Embassy notice, 15 Feb 2026 |
| Canada (ordinary) | 30 days | 31 Dec 2026 | Embassy notice, 15 Feb 2026 |
| Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most listed European countries | 30 days | 31 Dec 2026 | Consulate FAQ, 6 May 2026 |
| Brunei | 30 days | No end date stated | Consulate FAQ, 6 May 2026 |
| Russia | 30 days | FAQ says 14 Sep 2026, now passed; extension not confirmed in what we read | Consulate FAQ, 6 May 2026 |
| United States | Not on the list | Not applicable | Consulate FAQ, 6 May 2026 |
The FAQ counts the 30 days from the day after entry and says work, study and news reporting are excluded. It adds that multiple entries are allowed and that no advance declaration is needed.
What is the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme?
The National Immigration Administration’s page dated 20 August 2026 says travellers from 57 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, may enter visa-free through any of 65 open ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and stay in the permitted areas for up to 10 days. They need an ordinary passport and an onward ticket with confirmed seats and departure dates to a third country or region.
Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are among the 24 provinces, according to the NIA notice of 19 December 2024. The permitted-area map is an image we could not read, so we confirm the stay area before we plan a day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou. See our transit guide for the detail.
What to check before you book
- The date your visa-free period ends. The UK and Canada notice stops at 24:00 on 31 December 2026, and we have not seen an extension.
- Your passport type. The notice covers ordinary passports only.
- Your purpose. Work, study and news reporting are excluded.
- Your onward ticket, if you use the transit scheme.
This page reports official notices and is not immigration advice. Confirm your own situation with the Chinese Embassy or consulate for your passport before you pay for flights.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for China in 2026?
Not for stays of up to 30 days between 17 February and 31 December 2026, if they hold an ordinary passport and travel for the purposes listed in the Chinese Embassy’s notice of 15 February 2026.
Do Canadians need a visa for China in 2026?
The same notice covers Canada: up to 30 days, from 17 February to 31 December 2026, for ordinary-passport holders.
Do Americans need a visa for China?
The United States is not on the consulate FAQ’s list of 50 countries for 30-day visa-free entry. It is on the NIA’s 240-hour transit list, which needs an onward ticket to a third country, otherwise a visa is needed.
How many days can I stay under the visa-free policy?
Up to 30 days, counted from the day after entry, according to the consulate FAQ.
What is the 240-hour transit policy?
A scheme for travellers from 57 countries who hold confirmed onward tickets to a third country or region. They can stay in permitted areas for up to 10 days, per the NIA page of 20 August 2026.
Does visa-free entry cover Suzhou and Hangzhou?
For the 30-day policy, the notice does not limit your stay to one city. For 240-hour transit, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are among the 24 provinces, but the permitted-area map is an image we could not read, so check before you travel.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 9 November 2026 against these sources, from official pages where they exist and from the Wikipedia articles named in the list. Hours, prices and access change; we confirm them again before every trip.
- Chinese Embassy in the UK: Notice on China’s Visa Waiver Policy for the UK and Canada, 15 Feb 2026 (read 2026-11-09)
- Chinese Consulate General in Chicago: FAQ on visa-free entry into China, page dated 6 May 2026 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: Visa-Free Transit Policies, page dated 20 Aug 2026 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: Announcement on implementing 10 new measures, 3 Nov 2025 (read 2026-11-09)
- National Immigration Administration: 240-hour visa-free transit, 55 countries, 13 Jun 2025 (read 2026-11-09)
