India Resumes Issuing Tourist Visas to Chinese After 5-Year Gap

India’s government has announced that it will resume the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a hiatus of five years.

These restrictions were enacted during the initial phases of the global COVID-19pandemic and remained as tensions between India and China escalated following a major border confrontation in the Himalayas in 2020.

In a message posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo Indian Embassy stated: “From July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India.”

Chinese citizens will need to fill out the visa application form online, print it, and then schedule an appointment to submit their application and supporting documents at the Indian Visa Application Center.

Generally, applicants will need a valid passport, a visa application form, and proof of travel, such as flight tickets and accommodation details.

The visa fee for Indian citizens applying for a Chinese visa is 2900 INR (¥240.93 or $33.58) for a single entry.

India also issues other types of visas to Chinese citizens, including business, employment, and student visas.

Chinese government has persistently urged New Delhi to reinstate visa processing for its citizens, alongside the revival of direct flights between India and mainland China, which were also halted in 2020.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry, easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. “China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries,” the ministry stated.

Initiatives aimed at normalizing relations between the two nations commenced in October of the last year, subsequent to discussions held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders expressed their approval to adhere to an agreement focused on disengaging from conflict zones and pledged to work towards the restoration of bilateral relations.

Earlier this month, during a meeting in Beijing with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, “Since our leaders’ meeting in October 2024, the relationship has been progressively advancing in a positive direction.”

In the wake of several rounds of military and diplomatic discussions, various proposals aimed at alleviating trade and investment restrictions between India and China have begun to gain traction, propelled by demands from the industry.