What changed for UK passport holders
UK ordinary passport holders are included in China's unilateral visa-free policy as of February 17, 2026. This policy allows stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, family/friend visits, exchange, and transit, and is effective until December 31, 2026. Verify current status before travel: MFA briefing.
Verify your current eligibility using mission-level pages rather than social media reposts before buying flights.
If your passport is currently visa-free eligible
When eligible, UK ordinary passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family and friend visits, exchange, and transit. Use the embassy notice as your source of truth: visa-free FAQ.
Even without a visa sticker, carry a clear itinerary and lodging confirmation. Airline check-in staff may ask for evidence that your plan matches the visa-free purpose conditions.
Transit fallback if needed
If your specific case does not cleanly fit visa-free terms, evaluate 240-hour transit only when your route is clearly A-China-B with a confirmed onward booking and a compliant entry port.
Use the official NIA page for current operational details: NIA transit notice.
Regular visa route when certainty matters
If route conditions are uncertain or your stay exceeds 30 days, use the regular visa route. This is often the lowest-risk plan for multi-city or multi-purpose itineraries.
Apply through the official COVA portal and follow your local mission instructions: COVA portal.
Arrival and first-day compliance
NIA allows arrival-card submission online before arrival and still supports airport-side completion methods: arrival-card notice.
Registration obligations apply after entry. Hotels register guests directly; private stays must register with local public security within 24 hours: Article 39 guidance.
Primary references
Confirm your entry path before booking.
Run the visa checker with your exact passport and itinerary. It turns this guide into a route you can execute.