China expands visa-free travel to two new countries

Nationals from both countries will be able to travel to mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa from tomorrow.

The move comes after a high-profile visit to the nation by UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, in January.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping

China's foreign ministry said the scheme would "further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries".

"Ordinary passport holders from the two countries can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family/friends visit, exchange and transit purposes," it said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits the Forbidden City during his visit to China, on January 29, 2026 in Beijing

Starmer said on X after the January visit: "Four days, two cities, countless conversations: billions in exports and investment deals for Britain."

He was the first British prime minister in eight years to visit the country, meeting with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao.

"We halved tariffs on British whisky, got visa-free travel for Brits visiting China, had breakthroughs on services trade, big wins for British businesses that will create jobs back at home, and secured joint action to tackle illegal immigration – because the majority of the engines for small boats are built here in China," he said.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, China.

Late last year, China extended its visa-free entry scheme for 45 countries, including Australia, to the end of 2026.

With an Australian passport, you can visit China for up to 30 days without a visa.

Last month, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on goods imported from Canada if the United States' northern neighbour went ahead with its China trade deal.

Trump said in a social media post that if Carney "thinks he is going to make Canada a 'Drop Off Port' for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken".

It was unclear when Trump might impose the threatened tariff.

In October, Trump described his face-to-face with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a roaring success, saying he would cut tariffs on China, while Beijing had agreed to allow the export of rare earth elements and start buying American soybeans.

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