The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on 26 December rolled out a fully online visa application system for Indian passport holders, allowing applicants to complete all forms, upload documents and pay fees digitally before a single, shortened visit to the Chinese Visa Application Centre (CVAC). Officials say the portal cuts initial processing time by up to 40 percent and will eventually support e-visa issuance for certain short-term categories.
Under the new workflow, Indian travellers create an account, fill out an electronic application, and receive a QR-coded confirmation. Passports and biometrics need to be presented at CVAC only after the application passes preliminary screening, reducing footfall at counters notorious for long queues. Pilot testing over the past three months processed 12,000 Indian applications with an average turnaround of five working days.
For Indian applicants who prefer expert assistance, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can review uploaded documents, flag common mistakes, and even help secure CVAC appointments, streamlining the entire China visa journey from form submission to passport delivery.
![China launches end-to-end online visa portal for Indian travellers, eliminating paper forms]()
For business travellers, the system integrates invitation-letter verification with China’s Ministry of Commerce database, which consultants say will curb fraudulent documents and speed M-visa approvals. Multinational companies can also batch-upload details for delegations, a feature welcomed by Indian pharma and automotive firms planning post-pandemic supplier visits.
Trade bodies such as FICCI predict the change could revive two-way business travel, which remains 35 percent below 2019 levels. Travel managers should note that the embassy still requires physical submission of passports and that peak-season appointments at CVAC (especially ahead of the Canton Fair) fill quickly. Applicants are advised to book slots immediately after receiving electronic clearance.
Chinese authorities hinted that an India-specific multi-year business visa programme is under review for launch in mid-2026, dependent on the success of the digital portal and reciprocal facilitation by New Delhi.
Under the new workflow, Indian travellers create an account, fill out an electronic application, and receive a QR-coded confirmation. Passports and biometrics need to be presented at CVAC only after the application passes preliminary screening, reducing footfall at counters notorious for long queues. Pilot testing over the past three months processed 12,000 Indian applications with an average turnaround of five working days.
For Indian applicants who prefer expert assistance, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can review uploaded documents, flag common mistakes, and even help secure CVAC appointments, streamlining the entire China visa journey from form submission to passport delivery.
For business travellers, the system integrates invitation-letter verification with China’s Ministry of Commerce database, which consultants say will curb fraudulent documents and speed M-visa approvals. Multinational companies can also batch-upload details for delegations, a feature welcomed by Indian pharma and automotive firms planning post-pandemic supplier visits.
Trade bodies such as FICCI predict the change could revive two-way business travel, which remains 35 percent below 2019 levels. Travel managers should note that the embassy still requires physical submission of passports and that peak-season appointments at CVAC (especially ahead of the Canton Fair) fill quickly. Applicants are advised to book slots immediately after receiving electronic clearance.
Chinese authorities hinted that an India-specific multi-year business visa programme is under review for launch in mid-2026, dependent on the success of the digital portal and reciprocal facilitation by New Delhi.
