China has added the United Kingdom and Canada to its unilateral visa exemption program. Starting February 17, citizens of these two countries will be able to travel to China visa-free for up to 30 days.
In a statement issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was announced that as of February 17, citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada may enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
The decision was reportedly made within the framework of the unilateral visa exemption program launched to boost international travel following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beijing initially introduced the policy in December 2023 with six countries and a 15-day limit. The duration was later extended to 30 days, and the number of participating countries increased to 47. It was also noted that citizens of 55 countries are granted visa-free transit for up to 10 days.
It was further reported that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during their separate visits to China last month, announced that they had reached an agreement for their countries to be included in the program.