Visit the UK in a Chinese tour group

You can come to the UK for up to 30 days as part of a tour group through the approved destination status agreement (ADS) if you’re a Chinese citizen.

To qualify you must enter the country as part of your tour group (minimum 5 people) and stay with the group for the whole of your visit.

Your tour must be organised by an ADS licensed Chinese tour operator.

You must leave the UK when your ADS visa expires. You cannot extend this visa.

Fill in the ADS visitor application form online to apply.

Your agent will then arrange an appointment for the whole tour group at a visa approval centre in China. This will usually happen at least 3 weeks before departure.

Before the appointment date you need to give your agent:

  • your current travel document or passport
  • your previous passports or travel documents
  • evidence of your current employment or studies

You must have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

The appointment includes taking your fingerprints and photo (biometric information).

You should pay the visa fee directly to your travel agent, who will pay for the whole group.

Part of Visit the UK for a holiday or to see family or friends

  1. Step 1 Check if you’re eligible

    1. Find out what you can do when you visit the UK

    You must meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements even if you do not need a visa.

  2. Step 2 Check if you need a visa

    Depending on the country you're from, you might be able to visit the UK without a visa or by applying for an electronic travel authorisation.

    1. Check if you need a visa

  3. Step 3 Apply for a visa

    1. Find out how to apply for a Standard Visitor visa £100 for up to 6 months

    There's a different way to apply if:

  4. or Apply for a family permit

    You may be able to visit on a family permit if you have a family member who is:

    • a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
    • a Person of Northern Ireland
    • a British citizen
    1. Check if you can apply for a family permit

  5. or Apply for an electronic travel authorisation

    Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) if you're a national of:

    • Bahrain
    • Jordan
    • Kuwait
    • Oman
    • Qatar
    • Saudi Arabia
    • United Arab Emirates
    1. Apply for an ETA £10

  6. Step 4 Check what you can bring with you

    1. Check what you can bring with you
    2. Check what food, animals or plants you can bring into the UK

  7. Step 5 Check what you need to show at the UK border

    1. Check what you need to show at the UK border