China Offers 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to Canadians Until End of 2026

China has just removed its biggest barrier for many visitors: the visa application.

From February 17, 2026, to December 31, 2026 (Beijing time), citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom holding ordinary passports can enter China visa free for stays of up to 30 days. The policy covers trips for tourism, business, visiting friends or family, exchanges, and transit.

If you do not meet those conditions or you need to stay longer than 30 days, you still need a visa as before.

Officials have framed this as part of a wider push to boost tourism and business, and it brings the total number of visa-free countries to around 79.

Key Conditions for Visa-free Entry

Under the new policy, ordinary passport holders from Canada and the UK may enter mainland China without a visa and remain for up to 30 days per visit within the window that runs from February 17, 2026, through December 31, 2026, Beijing time.

Eligible purposes include leisure travel, business visits, short-term exchanges, transit where you plan to leave the airport, and trips to visit family or friends.

Visitors are expected to hold a valid passport for the duration of their stay, and border officers retain the right to ask for proof of accommodation and onward or return travel, in line with China’s general entry rules.

For now, authorities have clearly signalled an end date of December 31, 2026. Although previous visa-free pilots for other countries have been extended, there is no formal commitment yet, so you should plan on the basis that this arrangement is temporary.

I’m Quite Excited for This Update

China’s visa process has traditionally been seen as relatively complex, often involving in-person appointments, detailed forms, and supporting documents such as confirmed flights and hotel bookings

A couple of years ago, I had actually started planning a trip to China, but once I saw how involved the visa application was, I put the idea on hold and eventually backed out. The new visa-free policy removes that barrier and makes it much easier to seriously consider a trip again.

Shanghai was at the top of the list, with historic riverfront buildings along the Bund facing the modern skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River. The city combines international hotels, contemporary dining, and strong transport links to other parts of China.

Shanghai

Chengdu was another key destination, known globally for its role in giant panda conservation and locally for its teahouses and Sichuan cuisine. The city serves as a base for visiting nearby panda research centres, where visitors can observe pandas in spacious, landscaped enclosures rather than conventional zoo settings.

I was also very interested in Chongqing, a dense hillside metropolis located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Its multi-level roadways, terraced neighbourhoods, and extensive night-time skyline make it one of the more visually distinctive cities in the country.

For nature, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan province stood out as a major highlight. The park is characterised by towering sandstone pillars, narrow valleys, and lookouts reached by glass walkways and long elevators built into the cliffs.

Zhangjiajie National Park

The landscape is widely cited as an inspiration for the floating mountains in the film Avatar, and it has become a focal point for nature-oriented travel in central China.

Near Beijing, the combination of capital-city sightseeing and a visit to the Great Wall of China remains a core draw. Less crowded sections offer extended stretches of restored wall and mountain views, and they are often recommended for travellers seeking a more spacious experience than the busiest access points.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Getting to China using points

With the visa barrier temporarily lowered, you may find it more attractive to use existing points balances to reach Chinese gateways and then connect onward.

On the Star Alliance side, Aeroplan gives access to a large set of partner airlines, including Air China.

Aeroplan redemptions on partner airlines still follow a region and distance based chart, with pricing influenced by the total distance flown and the zones involved.

For SkyTeam options, Air France KLM Flying Blue is increasingly relevant for Canadian travellers. As of January 2026, American Express Membership Rewards in Canada now transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio, replacing the previous 1:0.75 structure.

Flying Blue miles can be redeemed for flights on partner carrier China Eastern Airlines and its subsidiary Shanghai Airlines, which operate extensive networks from Shanghai to cities across China and onward into Asia.

With the improved Amex transfer ratio, those itineraries become more accessible to Canadian cardholders who earn most of their points through everyday spend.

As always, it is important to factor in carrier-imposed surcharges and cash co-pays on Flying Blue bookings and to compare these totals with alternative options through Aeroplan or paid fares.

Conclusion

China’s temporary 30-day visa-free entry for Canadian and UK citizens removes one of the main obstacles that has held back leisure and business travel in recent years.

The combination of a clear policy window through December 31, 2026, a wide range of potential itineraries within a 30-day stay, and strong points-based options via Aeroplan and Flying Blue creates a favourable environment for planning a first or return trip.

For anyone who has been postponing a visit due to visa complexity, there is now a straightforward path to explore China under simplified entry rules.