China | Visa-free travel announced for UK citizens

The People’s Republic of China announced plans to allow British citizens to travel to China without obtaining a visa.

Key Points:

• On Jan. 29, 2026, after a state meeting between Chinese and British leaders, the two governments shared plans for visa-free travel for U.K. citizens visiting China.
• According to the U.K. government announcement, British citizens traveling to China for under 30 days on business or tourism will be eligible to visit the country without a visa.
• The planned change for the U.K. aligns with China’s relaxed visa requirements for 50 other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan.

Additional Information: All information reflects proposed changes, according to the government announcements. Implementation details for this plan are still pending. The final scope, timeline and procedures may differ from the current plan.

BAL will continue to monitor related developments and provide updates.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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