In New Delhi on 8 December, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong announced that the embassy will switch to a 100 percent online visa-application system on 22 December 2025 . Applicants will complete forms, upload documents and book appointments through VisaForChina’s portal, eliminating paper submissions.
The launch aligns with India’s recent decision to restore tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a five-year hiatus triggered by the 2020 border clash. Business visas had resumed earlier in 2025; tourist visas followed on 26 November . Direct commercial flights between the two countries restarted in October and confidence-building talks revived the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage route, signalling a calibrated thaw in relations.
![Chinese Embassy in India unveils fully online visa application platform]()
For Indian corporates and travel managers, the digital process should cut lead times and courier costs, and allow easier document tracking. The embassy said biometric collection will still occur at the Visa Application Centre but appointment slots will widen once back-office vetting is digitised.
Practically, companies should brief travellers to create accounts on the portal and pre-scan passports and supporting letters in PDF. HR teams should also revisit data-privacy protocols, as documents will transit Chinese servers.
Analysts view the move as Beijing’s test-bed for rolling out fully online visa filing in other large source markets; missions in Jakarta and Manila are reportedly next in line.
The launch aligns with India’s recent decision to restore tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a five-year hiatus triggered by the 2020 border clash. Business visas had resumed earlier in 2025; tourist visas followed on 26 November . Direct commercial flights between the two countries restarted in October and confidence-building talks revived the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage route, signalling a calibrated thaw in relations.
For Indian corporates and travel managers, the digital process should cut lead times and courier costs, and allow easier document tracking. The embassy said biometric collection will still occur at the Visa Application Centre but appointment slots will widen once back-office vetting is digitised.
Practically, companies should brief travellers to create accounts on the portal and pre-scan passports and supporting letters in PDF. HR teams should also revisit data-privacy protocols, as documents will transit Chinese servers.
Analysts view the move as Beijing’s test-bed for rolling out fully online visa filing in other large source markets; missions in Jakarta and Manila are reportedly next in line.
