India Restores Tourist Visa Services for Chinese Visitors After Five Years

India has announced the resumption of tourist visa applications for Chinese citizens, effective from July 24, 2025. This marks the first time in five years that Chinese nationals are able to apply for tourist visas to India, following the suspension of the service in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Embassy of India in China made the announcement via its official Sina Weibo account, stating that Chinese applicants must complete an online application, book an appointment, and submit their passport and supporting documents in person at one of the three designated Indian visa application centres in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.

Welcoming the development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the move as a “positive step,” emphasising that easing cross-border travel benefits both nations. He added that China would continue to engage with India to facilitate further mutual travel and cooperation.

Experts see India’s decision as a significant milestone in the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations, which had cooled considerably following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. Travel restrictions had remained in place despite China resuming visa issuance for Indian students and business travellers.

Relations between the two Asian neighbours have shown signs of improvement in recent months. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited China on July 14–15, his first official visit since the border tensions. The two countries have also discussed resuming direct flights and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which was suspended during the pandemic.

This reopening of tourist visa services is viewed as a positive step towards rebuilding people-to-people links and restoring diplomatic engagement between India and China.