China: visa, passport and entry requirements

Entry document

• ✓Passport
• ✕National ID card

Passport validity
6 months after the date of arrival

Must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date of arrival and 2 blank pages for visas and stamping. Immigration authorities may collect biometric data, including scanned fingerprints and photos, to register your entry into China. Medical screening on arrival or during your time in China may include body temperature scanning, or more rarely testing such as throat or nasal swabs, blood tests or medical examinations. You may be refused entry into China if you do not comply.

Visa

Depends on length of stay

Visa-free entry for stays up to 30 days for British citizens for tourism, business, family or friend visits or transit until 31 December 2026. For other reasons or longer stays, a visa must be obtained before travel. For those aged 14 to 70, applications must be made online followed by an in-person visit to a visa application centre for fingerprint scanning. Those aged 13 or under, or 71 or over, do not have to attend in person. — up to 30 days

Vaccination required on entry

Yellow Fever

if coming from a country listed as a transmission risk