China
United Kingdom
United Kingdom visa for Chinese citizens
Entry requirement
Chinese citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom, obtained before travel.
- Where to apply
- 6 missions
- Visa guide
- United Kingdom visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at gov.uk
Which United Kingdom visa?
Standard Visitor visa (tourism)
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 6 months per visit
- Fee
- £135
- Processing time
- Usually within 3 weeks of the biometric appointment
All visa types for the United Kingdom
For the tourist visa, the United Kingdom’s official sources give a standard fee of £135, and applications are made on gov.uk. Processing time, as the United Kingdom states it: Usually within 3 weeks of the biometric appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 6 months per visit.
British missions in China
- Embassy of the United Kingdom in Beijing
11 Guang Hua Lu, Jian Guo Men Wai, 100600 Beijing
Open 24/7 - Consulate General of the United Kingdom in Wuhan
33F, Pingan Finance Centre, 1628 Zhongshan Avenue, Jiang'an District, 430010 Wuhan
Open 24/7 - Consulate General of the United Kingdom in Shanghai
The British Centre, 17F Garden Square, 968 West Beijing Road, 200041 Shanghai
Open 24/7 - Consulate General of the United Kingdom in Guangzhou
22/F Guangzhou International Finance Centre, 5 Zhujiang Road West, Zhujiang New Town, 510623 Guangzhou
Open 24/7 - Consulate General of the United Kingdom in Chongqing
Suite 2801, Metropolitan Oriental Plaza, 68 Zourong Road, Yu Zhong District, 400010 Chongqing
Open 24/7 - Consular Office of the United Kingdom in Beijing
光华路 1, 100020 Beijing
All missions of the United Kingdom in China
The United Kingdom has 6 missions in China, with its embassy in Beijing. Consulates: Wuhan, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Beijing.
British citizens travelling to China
United KingdomChina Visa required China visa for citizens of the United Kingdom
Travel advice for the United Kingdom
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from China to the United Kingdom, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates the United Kingdom at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 8 September 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for the United Kingdom (updated 13 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long Chinese citizens can stay in the United Kingdom
How long Chinese citizens may stay in the United Kingdom is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Chinese citizens apply
In China, applications go to the British embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Wuhan, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Beijing, or to a visa centre acting for the United Kingdom; fees, documents and processing times are published by the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom’s neighbours for Chinese citizens
Ireland requires Chinese citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
British citizens travelling to China
China requires British citizens to hold a visa issued in advance. The rule is the same in both directions between China and the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Chinese citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom, obtained before travel.
Where is the British embassy in China?
The British embassy in China is in Beijing; there are also consulates in Wuhan, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing.
How much does the United Kingdom tourist visa cost?
The United Kingdom’s official sources give a standard fee of £135 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Usually within 3 weeks of the biometric appointment.
Do British citizens need a visa for China?
China requires British citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
Can Chinese citizens enter the United Kingdom visa-free?
No; Chinese citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.