Chinese Embassy in Canada announced it has granted visa waiver to citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada, starting February 17, 2026.

‎The Chinese foreign ministry announced this in a statement on its website on Sunday.

‎‎It said it extended visa waiver policy to both the UK and Canada, to strengthen bilateral ties, cross-border travel and facilitate business expansion between all parties.

‎The statement read, “To further facilitate cross-border travel, China decides to, starting from February 17, 2026, extend its visa waiver policy to ordinary passport holders from Canada and the UK.”

‎It added that ordinary passport holders of both of the UK and Canada could visit the Asian country, visa free, with a stay of up to 30 days for purposes that includes business, tourism and family visit.

‎”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,” the statement added.

‎The development comes weeks after British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, paid an official visit to China’s President, Xi Jinping in the capital city of Beijing earlier this year, where preliminary agreement were reached.

‎The visa free policy which China now extended to the Commonwealth nations is said to be effective until December 31, 2026.