China has eased its entry requirements for British citizens, allowing visa-free travel of up to 30 days for business, tourism, and other short-term visits.
The move is one of the major outcomes of the ongoing state visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is in China alongside senior government officials and business leaders.
With the development, the United Kingdom joins countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan under China’s visa-free regime, which has been extended until December 2026.
Reacting to the decision, the UK government said the relaxed visa policy would create fresh opportunities for British businesses to grow and expand into the Chinese market, helping to boost economic growth and support jobs back home.
The renewed UK-China partnership cuts across government-to-government relations and private sector cooperation in healthcare, legal services, financial and professional services, and education and skills development.
Both countries have also agreed to conduct a joint study on the possibility of negotiating a bilateral services agreement that would set clear rules for British firms operating in China.
As the world’s second-largest exporter of services, the UK is projected to sell up to £13 billion worth of services annually to China, driven by rising demand from the Asian economic giant.
Prime Minister Starmer noted that many UK businesses are keen to deepen their presence in China, describing the country as one of the world’s leading economic powerhouses. He said the relaxed visa rules would support firms seeking to expand internationally while stimulating growth and employment at home.
During the visit, the UK and China signed several agreements covering health cooperation, conformity assessment, transnational organized crime and illegal immigration, domiciliary services and sports industries, and technical and vocational education and training.
Additional agreements include a joint study on a UK-China Trade in Services Agreement, boosting UK exports to China, strengthening the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission, and cooperation on food safety and animal and plant quarantine.
