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Seventeen days after China promised Sir Keir Starmer that vacationers and enterprise travellers from the UK would achieve visa-free admission, Beijing has set a date.
At current, potential British guests to the Individuals’s Republic should apply not more than three months upfront, pay a minimal of £130 and go to a Chinese language visa workplace in London, Manchester, Belfast or Edinburgh to be fingerprinted.
However UK passport holders travelling to China will be capable to keep away from the tangled pink tape as early as Tuesday 17 February. Additionally from that date, Canadians will achieve the identical visa-free standing.
In an announcement on Sunday, China’s international ministry mentioned: “To additional facilitate cross-border journey, China decides to, ranging from February 17, 2026, lengthen its visa waiver coverage to unusual passport holders from Canada and the UK.
“Odd passport holders from the 2 international locations might be exempted from visa to enter China and keep for as much as 30 days for enterprise, tourism, household/associates go to, change and transit functions.”
It brings the UK into line with the European Union, Australia and dozens of different international locations.
The assertion from Beijing provides that the concession is at current momentary and can apply solely till the top of 2026.
Whereas the visa-free coverage is prone to be prolonged indefinitely, potential guests for subsequent yr could select to carry off reserving till an extension is confirmed.
When the visa-free deal was introduced by Downing Avenue, Wendy Wu – founding father of the eponymous tour operator – speculated that the change may happen inside days.
Ms Wu advised The Impartial: “Prior to now, if you go to China, you must get a visa – and that’s a lot work. However now it is going to be no barrier.
“Please take the chance and go, go, go. You simply take your passport to the window, to the road saying ‘visa free’.”
The relief of the powerful and costly visa course of is prone to set off a rise in journey to the Individuals’s Republic. Louisa Trickett, product supervisor for China at Audley Journey, mentioned: “We count on to see enquiries rise from those that have been intrigued by China and the unimaginable experiences it presents, however had been postpone by the visa utility.”
Different main Asian locations, together with Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, don’t require visas from British guests.
Neil Taylor, former director of Regent Holidays and now a tour chief and guidebook author, mentioned: “This can make China instantly aggressive with all its neighbours.”
However he warned: “Air fares could go up in worth now except the airways increase massively on the idea of this new potential.”
UK travellers who’ve already utilized and paid for Chinese language visas however who’ve but to journey won’t get refunds.
Learn extra: Right here’s why it’s best to go to China now
