Visa requirement

United Kingdom visa for Chinese citizens

Official-source answer with stay limit, cost, required documents and last verification date.

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?

Passport Chinese passport Destination United Kingdom Visa required

Checked answer — confirm before travel

Chinese citizens need a visa to enter the United Kingdom.

Last verified: 23 Jul 2026

Confidence: Medium Likely current — confirm details with the official source.

This answer is for ordinary Chinese passport holders travelling as citizens of that passport. Residence permits, long-stay visas or living in another country can change which embassy or rule applies.

Visa types at a glance

Tourist visa-free, eVisa and visa-on-arrival availability for this corridor
Visa type	Availability	Stay
Tourist visa-free?	No	This page stores a visa or authorization route instead.
eVisa?	No	No eVisa route is stored for this corridor.
Visa on arrival?	No	No visa-on-arrival route is stored for this corridor.

Max stay: Set by visa
Official cost: 135 GBP
Before departure: Apply for a visa before you travel
Official route: Open official source (opens in a new tab)

Before you travel

1 Entry step Apply for a visa before you travel Official route (opens in a new tab)
2 Stay limit Set by visa
3 Official fee 135 GBP
4 Passport validity Official rule stored below. See full note
5 Transit airside: conditional; landside: conditional. Full note below. See full note
6 Freshness Checked 23 Jul 2026; confidence: medium

Shareable verdict: Chinese citizens need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Checked 23 Jul 2026.

Open SVG card

Cost note

Standard Visitor visa fee for up to 6 months.

Passport and transit notes

Passport validity: Passport or travel document should be valid for the whole stay in the UK.; Validity source (opens in a new tab) Validity guide
Transit: airside transit: conditional; landside transit: conditional; UK transit rules depend on nationality, route and whether the traveller goes through UK border control. Visa nationals may need a Direct Airside Transit visa or Visitor in Transit visa unless an exemption or valid UK visitor permission applies.; Transit source (opens in a new tab) Transit guide

What you need

valid passport
completed online application
visa application centre appointment
proof of funds and ties to China
return or onward ticket

Why this verdict

Chinese citizens need a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK. China is not in the ETA-only list, so travellers should apply for the visa before departure.

Frequently asked questions

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?

Chinese citizens need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. (Visa required.) Verified 23 Jul 2026 against the official source.

How long can Chinese passport holders stay in the United Kingdom?

The length of stay is set by the visa you are issued.

How much does entry to the United Kingdom cost for Chinese citizens?

The official fee is 135 GBP. This page tracks the official government fee only, not agent markup.

More destinations for this passport

United Kingdom visa for other passports

See all verified passport rules for the United Kingdom

Travelling the other way?

British citizens China

Related guides

Disclaimer. Visa and entry requirements change frequently and without notice and may depend on your specific circumstances (nationality, passport type, purpose and length of stay, residence in other countries, onward route and current diplomatic situation). The information here is for general guidance only, may be out of date, and is not legal, immigration, or travel advice. All cost, duration, and popularity figures are estimates. Always confirm the exact, current requirements with the official source for the destination country — its embassy, consulate, immigration service, or official e-visa portal (linked where available) — and with your airline before booking or travelling. We do not guarantee accuracy or completeness and accept no liability for any loss, denied boarding, refused entry, or other consequences. Last-verified dates are shown for each record; a record without a recent verification date should be treated as unconfirmed.