In a move that many analysts see as the clearest sign yet of a diplomatic thaw, India on 21 November 2025 restarted tourist-visa processing for Chinese citizens at all of its embassies and consulates. Delhi had halted visa issuance in mid-2020 after the deadly Galwan Valley clash, and for five years inbound leisure travel from China remained effectively frozen.
Under the revived policy, Chinese passport-holders can again apply for single- and multiple-entry tourist visas of up to one-year validity through the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) network or directly with missions abroad. According to officials, the resumption follows the recent restoration of direct flights, the restart of the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage programme and joint business delegations—steps negotiated after months of back-channel military disengagement in eastern Ladakh.
![India Reopens Tourist Visas for Chinese Nationals Worldwide, Signalling Diplomatic Thaw]()
Travel-industry stakeholders expect the decision to unlock sizeable pent-up demand. Pre-Covid, China was India’s largest source of high-spending leisure visitors from East Asia (approximately 300,000 arrivals in 2019). Hotel groups in Delhi, Agra and Bengaluru report a spike in group enquiries for Q1 2026, while tour operators are dusting off Mandarin websites and hiring bilingual guides. Corporates on both sides—particularly in pharmaceuticals, electronics and renewable energy—say easier short-term travel will speed project inspections and after-sales support that have been handled virtually for years.
Practical tips for companies: ensure travellers keep printed copies of their approved visas and itinerary, as border authorities may conduct additional document checks during the early months. Organisations with China-based staff should also review re-entry rules; employees with unexpired business visas can continue to use those, but new tourist visas offer a flexible back-up. Finally, watch seat capacity: only four airlines presently fly the India-China corridor, so booking early will be essential until more frequencies are permitted.
Under the revived policy, Chinese passport-holders can again apply for single- and multiple-entry tourist visas of up to one-year validity through the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) network or directly with missions abroad. According to officials, the resumption follows the recent restoration of direct flights, the restart of the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage programme and joint business delegations—steps negotiated after months of back-channel military disengagement in eastern Ladakh.
Travel-industry stakeholders expect the decision to unlock sizeable pent-up demand. Pre-Covid, China was India’s largest source of high-spending leisure visitors from East Asia (approximately 300,000 arrivals in 2019). Hotel groups in Delhi, Agra and Bengaluru report a spike in group enquiries for Q1 2026, while tour operators are dusting off Mandarin websites and hiring bilingual guides. Corporates on both sides—particularly in pharmaceuticals, electronics and renewable energy—say easier short-term travel will speed project inspections and after-sales support that have been handled virtually for years.
Practical tips for companies: ensure travellers keep printed copies of their approved visas and itinerary, as border authorities may conduct additional document checks during the early months. Organisations with China-based staff should also review re-entry rules; employees with unexpired business visas can continue to use those, but new tourist visas offer a flexible back-up. Finally, watch seat capacity: only four airlines presently fly the India-China corridor, so booking early will be essential until more frequencies are permitted.
