India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals starting today i.e. July 24, 2025, the Indian Embassy in Beijing announced today.
This marks the first time in five years that Chinese tourists can apply for travel permits to India — a significant diplomatic gesture as the two countries work to stabilise relations that were deeply strained by the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.
Tourist visa services were halted in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when India suspended all such categories to prevent the spread of the virus.
While China lifted its own restrictions in 2022, allowing Indian students and business travelers to return, the issuance of Indian tourist visas to Chinese citizens remained suspended.
According to a statement posted by the Indian Embassy on Chinese social media platform Weibo and shared by Chinese state media Global Times, Chinese citizens will now be able to apply for Indian tourist visas by following a three-step process:
1. Fill out the online application form.
2. Schedule an appointment through the visa portal.
3. Personally submit their passport, visa application form, and supporting documents at one of the Indian Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.
The embassy also noted that for passport withdrawals at the Beijing centre, applicants must submit a formal passport withdrawal letter.
