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British passport · China

Do British citizens need a visa for China?

By the Visa Almanac editorial teamChange logUpdated 4 Nov 2026

In brief

No. British passport holders can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days.

China visa-free stay for British citizens: up to 30 days. Official rule. Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, checked .

China visa fee for British citizens: none for visa-free entry.

Conditions: ordinary passports; unilateral policy until 31 Dec 2026.

Exception: Hainan Province only: enter through a Hainan port and stay within Hainan; ordinary passports; stay: 30 days.

Nationals of the above countries holding ordinary passports may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit, for stays of up to 30 days.National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China

Checked 4 Nov 2026Source: National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of ChinaVisas only at consular.mfa.gov.cnReport a change

Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.

ContentsIn brief
  1. In brief
  2. At a glance
  3. Do British citizens need a visa?
  4. Apply from the UK
  5. Fee
  6. Processing time
  7. Documents
  8. What changed
  9. FAQ
  10. Sources

At a glance

AccessVisa-free · 30 daysordinary passports; unilateral policy until 31 Dec 2026Exception: Hainan Province only: enter through a Hainan port and stay within Hainan; ordinary passports; stay: 30 days
StayUp to 30 days
Validity and entriesNot stated by the official source
Official feeNone for visa-free entryIf you need a visa, British nationals applying in the UK pay £64 (£128 for a 5-year and £191 for a 10-year multiple-entry visa) under reduced fees that run until 31 December 2026.6
Official processingNothing to apply for
Where to applyNothing to apply for to visit visa-freeOfficial site: consular.mfa.gov.cn
Before arrivalSince 20 November 2025 foreign visitors can submit the arrival card online before travelling (NIA website, NIA app, WeChat or Alipay); otherwise it is filled in on arrival.5

Do British citizens need a visa for China?

The National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China lists the UK among the countries whose nationals can visit without a visa. Stay: 30 days. Conditions: ordinary passports; unilateral policy until 31 Dec 2026.

“Nationals of the above countries holding ordinary passports may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit, for stays of up to 30 days.”

National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China · checked

Conditions and exceptions

  • With conditions · 30 days Hainan Province only: enter through a Hainan port and stay within Hainan; ordinary passports; stay: 30 days.

    Foreign nationals holding ordinary passports from 61 countries may enter and stay within the administrative region of Hainan Province for a maximum of 30 days without a visaNational Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China · checked

  • The 30 visa-free days are counted from 00:00 on the day after you enter China.

    United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ... Note: Nationals of the above countries holding ordinary passports may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit, for stays of up to 30 days. The duration of stay is calculated from 00:00 on the day following the date of entry.National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China · checked

  • You can enter visa-free multiple times, with no limit on the number of entries or total days, as long as each visit matches the allowed purposes.

    Foreign nationals eligible for the visa waiver can enter China without a visa multiple times. Currently, there is no restriction on the number of entries or total days of stay, but those who enjoy visa-free travel to China shall not engage in activities inconsistent with their purpose of entry.Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom · checked

  • For more than 30 days, get the matching visa before you travel; after a visa-free entry, a longer stay needs a stay permit from the public security exit-entry administration, for good reasons only.

    Foreign nationals planning to stay in China for over 30 days shall apply for visas corresponding to their purposes of stay in advance at Chinese embassies or consulates. If they have to stay longer than 30 days for appropriate and sufficient reasons after entering China without a visa, they shall apply for stay permits to the exit and entry administrations of public security authoritiesEmbassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom · checked

  • You need an ordinary passport valid for at least the length of your stay; travel documents and temporary or emergency passports do not qualify for visa-free entry.

    For foreign nationals, an ordinary passport valid for at least the duration of intended stay in China is needed. Holders of travel documents or temporary or emergency documents other than ordinary passports are not allowed to enter into China without a visa.Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom · checked

  • British citizens transiting to a third country can also use the 240-hour visa-free transit: up to 10 days in designated areas, via 65 designated ports, with an ordinary passport and a confirmed onward ticket.

    II. 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Currently, China is implementing this policy for nationals of 57 countries including Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Nationals of these countries, who need to transit through China to third countries or regions, may enter visa-free through any of the designated 65 open exit-entry ports in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and stay in the permitted areas for no more than 10 days, provided that they hold ordinary passports and onward tickets with confirmed seats and departure dates.National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China · checked

How to apply from the UK

To visit visa-free for up to 30 days there is nothing to apply for: check the documents and entry checks below. For a longer stay or another purpose:

  1. In the UK, visa applications are filled in and documents uploaded online through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center's system at visaforchina.cn, launched on 31 March 2025.

    Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom · checked

Fee

Visa-free entry costs nothing.

These are government fees as the official sources state them. Agencies add their own service fees; those are not visa fees, and we don't list them.

Processing time

Nothing to apply for to visit visa-free for up to 30 days. For visas, the official sources we read state no processing time.

Documents and entry checks

What changed

  1. Since 20 November 2025 foreign visitors can submit the arrival card online before travelling (NIA website, NIA app, WeChat or Alipay); otherwise it is filled in on arrival. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom · checked
  2. Since 17 February 2026, British ordinary passport holders can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchanges and transit; the policy runs until 31 December 2026. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom · checked
  3. Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.

FAQ

Is China visa-free for British citizens now?

Yes: visa-free for up to 30 days. Conditions: ordinary passports; unilateral policy until 31 Dec 2026. Checked on 4 Nov 2026 against the National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China.

How much does a China visa cost for British citizens?

Visa-free entry costs nothing. If you need a visa, British nationals applying in the UK pay £64 (£128 for a 5-year and £191 for a 10-year multiple-entry visa) under reduced fees that run until 31 December 2026.

Can I get a China visa in 7 days?

There is nothing to apply for to visit visa-free for up to 30 days. The official sources we read state no processing time.

Sources

Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.

  1. National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China: entry rule and entry conditionsen.nia.gov.cn · checked
  2. National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China: entry ruleen.nia.gov.cn · checked
  3. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom: changesgb.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked
  4. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom: entry conditionsgb.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked
  5. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom: documentsgb.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked
  6. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom: feesgb.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked
  7. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom: how to applygb.china-embassy.gov.cn · checked
  8. National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China: entry conditionsen.nia.gov.cn · checked
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Rules change without notice. Always confirm with the official source linked on each page before you travel.