China to lift visa requirements for citizens of Canada and the UK

Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

China is set to lift visa requirements for citizens of the U.K. and Canada starting Feb. 17, Xinhua reported.

According to a statement by the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the policy will last until Dec. 31, 2026. It will allow ordinary passport holders to stay in China for up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, business, visiting family and friends, exchange and transit.

The CBC reported that the initiative to grant visa waivers to Canadians was first mentioned in January, following a meeting between Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Xi Jinping.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Xi on Jan. 29, becoming the first British PM to visit China in eight years. The parties signaled plans for closer cooperation, including a planned $15 billion investment by AstraZeneca in China.

Last November, China extended visa-free entry to citizens of 45 countries, allowing stays of up to 30 days until Dec. 31, 2026.