China Opens 30-Day Visa-Free Travel to 79 Countries as Demand Builds for 2026

From February 17, 2026, citizens of the UK and Canada can enter mainland China without a visa and stay for up to 30 days for tourism and several other short-term reasons, including business trips and visiting family. With those two additions, the 30-day visa-free program now covers 79 countries, which includes most of Europe. For many travelers, the main benefit is simple: you can plan faster and skip the embassy paperwork.

Why this matters for the travel industry

Visas can be a deal-breaker. When entry rules are complicated, travelers often pick another destination. China is trying to reverse that pattern as it rebuilds international tourism after COVID-era restrictions.

In 2023, inbound tourism was still well below 2019 levels, which is why policy changes like this have become a major tool for recovery. Immigration authorities say visa-free travel is already rising quickly, with 20.1 million visa-free trips in 2024, more than double the 2023 total. That kind of growth directly supports airlines, hotels, guides, and tour companies.

If you’re not eligible, there’s still a visa-free transit option

Not being on the 30-day list does not always mean you need a full visa. China also allows 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for eligible travelers from 55 countries, but only if you continue to a third country or region (you cannot fly in and fly straight back to where you came from). This transit policy works through 60 ports of entry and is designed for stopovers and multi-country itineraries. It can be a useful workaround, but it has tighter routing rules than standard visa-free entry.

What to expect next

The UK and Canada joined the scheme on February 17, 2026. The next question is whether China extends or adjusts the program further. Some official notices have included time limits (for example, policies that run through a specific date), and China has been updating entry rules in stages since late 2023. If you are booking for later in 2026, it is smart to re-check the official rules set close to departure, especially if you plan to use the 10-day transit option.

China’s travel demand is already surging: Officials expect a record 9.5 billion domestic trips during the 2026 Lunar New Year rush (February 2–March 13), which could tighten flights and raise prices around peak weeks.

Photo by Ling Tang on Unsplash