Chinese tourists granted renewed access to India following a five-year ban on visa issuance.
India Resumes Tourist Visas for Chinese Citizens, Marking a Step Towards Normalizing Relations
After a five-year suspension, India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens starting July 24, 2025. This move is expected to boost people-to-people contact and revive tourism ties between the two countries, following a period of strained relations due to border disputes and COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The visa halt had severely curtailed tourism and personal visits between the two nations. Now, Chinese tourists can apply for a tourist visa to visit India by filling out the visa application form online, printing it, making an appointment, and submitting the application at the Indian Visa Application Center in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Biometrics are required for the application process.
China welcomed the resumption as a positive and mutually beneficial step, though some Chinese media criticized India’s visa conditions as restrictive. Chinese officials emphasized the importance of restoring personal exchanges and committed to continued dialogue to improve travel facilitation.
The decision follows recent bilateral interactions, including high-level meetings and the reopening of direct flights, signifying confidence-building efforts despite unresolved border issues. The resumption of direct flight services between India and China is also expected to be agreed upon after a five-year hiatus.
Implications of this visa resumption include:
- Reviving tourism and cultural exchanges, thereby boosting bilateral people-to-people ties.
- Potentially easing economic impacts on sectors reliant on travel.
- Signaling a diplomatic thaw, which might pave the way for further cooperation on border and trade issues.
- Supporting regional stability by promoting dialogue and reduced friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
However, underlying geopolitical tensions remain, and while visa issuance facilitates softer ties, it does not eliminate strategic challenges in the India-China relationship. The move represents a cautious but meaningful step toward normalization amidst a complex bilateral context.
Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists made up about 3.1% of India's total foreign visitors, with many drawn to the Golden Triangle and the Taj Mahal. With the resumption of tourist visas, Chinese visitors can once again explore India's rich cultural and historical sites, particularly those related to Buddhism.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a notice in April 2022 stating that all Indian tourist visas for Chinese nationals would be deemed invalid. However, Indian officials have not yet released detailed guidelines for the resumption of tourist visas.
This is the first time since 2019 that Chinese nationals can apply for Indian tourist visas. China is ready to maintain communication and consultation with India and constantly improve the level of personal exchanges between the two countries, according to a spokesperson Guo Jiakun. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken note of India's decision to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals.
[1] India resumes tourist visas for Chinese citizens [2] China welcomes India's move to resume tourist visas for Chinese citizens [3] How to apply for an Indian tourist visa as a Chinese citizen [4] India-China relations: A new chapter begins with the resumption of tourist visas [5] India-China relations: The road to normalization is long and complex
Here are the sentences containing the words 'lifestyle' and 'travel':
- Chinese tourists can once again explore India's rich cultural and historical sites, particularly those related to Buddhism, which could revive tourism and offer an opportunity to immerse in the local lifestyle.
- The revival of tourism ties between India and China is expected to potentially ease economic impacts on sectors reliant on travel, thereby supporting a lifestyle that thrives on cross-cultural interactions.
