China’s government said on Feb. 16 that British and Canadian citizens will be able to enter China without a visa starting Tuesday, a policy change that expands the visa-free-access program to 79 countries.
The announcement frames the step as part of a push to make travel easier for both tourism and business, building on an expansion China has carried out over the last two years, according to the report.
China said visa-free visitors will be able to stay for up to 30 days, including for business, tourism, exchange programs, and visits to family and friends.
The visa-free eligibility covers “most Europeans,” and the report says it also extends to some travelers from select countries in other regions, including Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
China also laid out a separate transit rule for some countries. It said citizens of the United States and Indonesia can enter for 10 days if they are in transit, defining that as having a ticket departing for a different country than they arrived from.
Business executives and tourists have welcomed the change, the report said, noting that applying for a China visa can be “relatively cumbersome.”
The report said the addition of the United Kingdom and Canada followed visits to China last month by Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, both described as relatively new leaders working to revamp ties with Beijing after a downturn in recent years.
For most countries covered by the program, China said visa-free access expires at the end of this year, while the report said it has been extended in the past.