China has included the UK in its unilateral visa exemption program, granting British citizens the right to travel without a visa for up to 30 days. The decision was formalized during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China.
The UK Prime Minister's Office (10 Downing Street) announced that visa rules for UK citizens have been relaxed under a new partnership agreement with China. Accordingly, the visa requirement has been waived for trips shorter than 30 days.
The statement emphasized that the visa exemption would cover both business and tourist travelers. It was stated that with this step, the UK would be brought to the same status as 50 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Australia.
Commenting on the matter, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that they aim to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries, saying, “We will facilitate the expansion of businesses' presence in China, including through relaxed visa rules for short-term travel. This will support domestic growth and employment while also helping them expand abroad.”