China-UK links are growing fast. Not only does the UK run the quickest visa service in China; more and more Chinese students and tourists are coming to Britain.

Best in China

At the end of last year UKvisas - now the UK Border Agency - was voted the best in China. The award, from World Traveller magazine, was made in Shanghai in recognition of the UK’s fast and customer-friendly service.

The UK also won the award for Top Destination for Study and Travel. Consul-General Carma Elliot and Entry Clearance Manager, Ian Sargeant, accepted the awards on behalf of UKvisas in China.

Last year the UK issued over 145,000 visas to Chinese nationals, with nearly 40,000 of these going to residents of East China through the British Consulate in Shanghai.

Eleven visa centres across China

Applications for visas to the UK can be made in any one of eleven centres across China. The vast majority of successful applicants receive them within three working days.

The UK is enjoying the fruits of this new-found Chinese desire for travel and adventure which is reflected in a large increase in the numbers of those applying for visas. The year-on-year growth of outbound Chinese tourists to the UK is currently well over 20 per cent.

The UK also remains a popular destination for students. There are 120,000 Chinese students in Europe – two-thirds of them in Britain. The two main attractions of UK education is its quality and the universal recognition of its qualifications.

Stay and work in UK

And the additional attraction this year is that all students can now stay and work for a year in Britain after graduation.

Founded in 2000, World Traveller is China’s only media group in the travel industry that incorporates TV, magazine, guidebook and website, providing comprehensive outbound travel information and service.

Read more about managed migration to the UK and how we work closely with the UK Border Agency and others.