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Paying a visit to China used to involve a whole load of rigamarole, but if you’re planning a trip to the country before the end of this year, then we’ve got some incredibly exciting news.
China has just announced that visa-free entry to the country for up to 30 days will be extended to 47 countries, the majority of which are in Europe. UK citizens are included – here’s Time Out’s guide for Brits planning to visit China visa-free.
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There are other nations with bilateral arrangements with China that allow citizens visa-free entry, such as Azerbaijan, which signed a mutual agreement back in mid-2025, and Canada, a deal that was cemented during PM Mark Carney’s state visit, according to Travel Tomorrow.
Why is this happening? Well, authorities are keen to support the continued growth of China’s tourism sector. In the third quarter of 2025, 7.25 million foreign nationals entered the country thanks to the visa-free policy, which was a 50 percent increase on the same period in 2024. Overall, 72 percent of all arrivals were travellers utilising the visa-free process.
Which countries are now eligible to enter China visa-free?
Here’s the full, 47-strong list of countries that benefit from the expansion of visa-free entry to China, including the UK.
- 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
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
It’s not clear whether this expansion will be extended past the end of 2026, so we suggest you make the most of it while it lasts. Head to our China hub for guides to all the top cities. Oh, and have a look at Time Out’s locations guide to Race Across The World for season 5: it’s full of beautiful, lesser-known Chinese destinations.
ICYMI: How to finally go flight-free in 2026: A practical, actionable guide.
Plus: The best travel photos from the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 shortlist.
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