China Allows Visa-Free Entry for Up to 30 Days for Canada and the UK, Key U.S. Allies

The Chinese government will unilaterally apply a visa-free entry policy for Canada and the United Kingdom, both key U.S. allies, until the end of this year.

Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, and Xi Jinping, President of China, are meeting in Beijing, China. Reuters and Yonhap News

In a statement released on the 15th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, "To further facilitate the movement of people between China and foreign countries, China has decided to implement a visa exemption policy for holders of ordinary passports from Canada and the United Kingdom starting on the 17th." This measure will remain in effect until the end of this year.

This unilateral visa-free policy means that China will preemptively waive entry visas even when the other country does not grant visa-free access to Chinese nationals. Holders of ordinary passports from Canada and the United Kingdom will be able to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, travel, tourism, family visits, exchange visits, or transit.

In November 2023, China introduced unilateral visa exemption measures for five European countries including Germany and France, as well as for Malaysia. In June 2024, it expanded visa-free entry to Australia and New Zealand. It then granted visa-free entry to South Korea and eight European countries in November 2024, just before the U.S. presidential election, and after U.S. President Donald Trump’s victory, it extended visa-free access to Japan and another eight European countries. In addition, last year it further expanded the visa-free scope to five Latin American countries and four Middle Eastern countries.

Taking advantage of the visits to China by Canadian Prime Minister Carney Mark and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, China has now extended visa-free measures this year even to key U.S. ally countries.

Some analysts say this may be a move to increase visitors to China and boost consumption at a time when the country is still struggling to overcome a sluggish domestic economy.