UK visas for Chinese citizens

Chinese nationals are the largest source of international students in the UK — in the year ending June 2026, China was the biggest single nationality for sponsored study visas — and a significant group on the Graduate, Skilled Worker and Global Talent routes. This page covers what depends on being a citizen of the People’s Republic of China: entry documents, the TB test, the ATAS certificate, English evidence and the nationality question at the end of the road. It does not cover holders of Hong Kong SAR passports, who are treated differently for visits and may qualify for the BN(O) route.

Visiting the UK

China is a visa-national country. A Standard Visitor visa is required for any visit, however short, and the Electronic Travel Authorisation is not available to Chinese citizens. Applications are made online and completed at a visa application centre in China, where biometrics are taken. Two-, five- and ten-year visitor visas are available for frequent travellers.

Changing planes in the UK without passing through immigration normally requires a Direct Airside Transit Visa, unless one of the exemptions applies — for example holding certain valid visas for the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Check the transit rules against your own documents rather than assuming.

Studying in the UK

The Student visa process is the same as for other nationalities. Three points matter more for Chinese applicants than for most.

ATAS. Chinese nationals are not exempt from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme. If your course or research is in a sensitive science, engineering or technology subject — which covers a wide range of postgraduate and some undergraduate programmes — you need an ATAS certificate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before you apply for the visa. Processing can take weeks, and the certificate is tied to a specific course at a specific institution. Your university will tell you whether your course needs one; apply as soon as you have the offer.

Dependants. Since January 2024 most students cannot bring family members; the exception is postgraduate research students and government-sponsored students.

Graduate visa. Applications made by 31 December 2026 receive two years; from 1 January 2027 the standard grant is 18 months. See the Graduate visa guide and the Graduate vs Skilled Worker comparison.

Working in the UK

Skilled Worker is the main route, with the same salary and skill thresholds as for everyone else. Global Talent is used by Chinese researchers and engineers with a strong record, and it avoids the sponsor tie. Employees of Chinese companies with UK subsidiaries often arrive on a Global Business Mobility route, which does not lead to settlement. The ATAS requirement also applies to some research roles: if your job involves a sensitive subject, the sponsor’s Certificate of Sponsorship will say whether an ATAS certificate is needed.

China is not a Youth Mobility Scheme country, so there is no unsponsored two-year route for younger applicants.

Bringing your family

Partners and children of Skilled Workers and Global Talent holders can normally apply as dependants. Chinese marriage and birth documents are accepted with certified translations. Spouses and partners of British citizens and settled people use the partner visa, with the £29,000 minimum income requirement, where applicable, and A1 English at entry.

China-specific requirements

TB test. China is on the list of countries where a tuberculosis test is required. The rule turns on residence rather than nationality: it applies if you are applying for more than six months and have lived in China, or another listed country, for six months or more in the last six months. The test must be taken at a clinic approved by the Home Office and the certificate is valid for six months. Each family member who meets the requirement needs their own certificate; children must attend an approved clinic, although those under 11 do not normally have a chest X-ray.

English. China is not a majority-English-speaking country for immigration purposes, so routes that require English must be evidenced. For most Chinese applicants that means an approved Secure English Language Test taken at an authorised centre; a degree taught in English can be used instead if Ecctis confirms both its equivalence and its language of instruction, which applies to some joint and international programmes. Skilled Worker applications made from 8 January 2026 need B2. See the English requirements guide.

Applying in China. Applications are submitted online and completed in person at a visa application centre. Whether a priority or super priority service is available depends on the route and on capacity when you apply; where it is, it costs extra. Permission is now granted digitally: successful applicants get an eVisa in their UKVI account. The passport sticker ended on 1 July 2026, and a form for accompanying an eVisa (FAV) is issued to some applicants for the journey.

Routes to settlement

Skilled Worker, Global Talent and the partner route lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain under current rules — five years on the first and third, three or five on Global Talent. Student, Graduate and Global Business Mobility time does not count towards those periods, although lawful residence on them counts towards the ten-year Long Residence route. The typical Chinese path is Student, then Graduate or a direct switch to Skilled Worker, then settlement.

At the citizenship stage, Chinese nationals face the same decision as nationals of India and some other countries. Chinese nationality law does not recognise dual nationality: under Article 9 of the Nationality Law, a Chinese national who has settled abroad and voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality. This can affect the documents and rights you use in China, so check the Chinese-law consequences before naturalising. ILR has no such effect. See the ILR vs citizenship comparison.

Common questions

Can Chinese citizens use the ETA? No. A Standard Visitor visa is required. Holders of Hong Kong SAR passports and Taiwan passports with an identity number are treated differently.

Do I need ATAS for a taught master’s? Possibly. It depends on the subject, not the level alone. Your offer letter or the university’s international office will tell you.

Does a Chinese degree count for the English requirement? Only if it was taught in English and Ecctis confirms that. Most applicants take an approved test instead.

Will ILR affect my Chinese nationality? No. Only naturalising as British does.