Continuing its global consular modernisation drive, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi switched on an end-to-end digital visa application platform on 26 December, with details released on 28 December. Indian nationals can now complete forms, upload documents and pay fees online; passports are presented only once an e-mail appointment confirmation is issued for final verification at the Chinese Visa Application Centre.
Embassy officials say the upgrade halves in-person visits and trims counter processing time by up to 40 %. The move coincides with steadily rising India-China flight frequencies and complaints from Indian corporates that paper-heavy visa procedures were delaying quality-control trips to Shenzhen and Shanghai.
Travellers who would prefer professional assistance navigating the new system can turn to VisaHQ, which offers step-by-step guidance, document review and appointment scheduling for Chinese visas; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/china/.
![Chinese embassy in India launches fully digital visa portal, cutting paperwork for travellers]()
Technically, the portal is linked to China’s National Immigration Administration databases, enabling real-time security checks. An API is due in early 2026 so large employers can plug status updates directly into HR mobility dashboards.
Mobility managers should update internal checklists immediately: invitation-letter rules and medical-insurance requirements remain unchanged, and one physical passport drop-off is still mandatory until Chinese border booths nationwide can read QR-coded visas—a capability planners expect by 2027.
The digital launch brings India in line with similar e-visa pilots rolled out this year in Indonesia and South Africa, signalling Beijing’s intent to make fully paperless visa issuance the norm before the 2027 World University Games in Chengdu.
Embassy officials say the upgrade halves in-person visits and trims counter processing time by up to 40 %. The move coincides with steadily rising India-China flight frequencies and complaints from Indian corporates that paper-heavy visa procedures were delaying quality-control trips to Shenzhen and Shanghai.
Travellers who would prefer professional assistance navigating the new system can turn to VisaHQ, which offers step-by-step guidance, document review and appointment scheduling for Chinese visas; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/china/.
Technically, the portal is linked to China’s National Immigration Administration databases, enabling real-time security checks. An API is due in early 2026 so large employers can plug status updates directly into HR mobility dashboards.
Mobility managers should update internal checklists immediately: invitation-letter rules and medical-insurance requirements remain unchanged, and one physical passport drop-off is still mandatory until Chinese border booths nationwide can read QR-coded visas—a capability planners expect by 2027.
The digital launch brings India in line with similar e-visa pilots rolled out this year in Indonesia and South Africa, signalling Beijing’s intent to make fully paperless visa issuance the norm before the 2027 World University Games in Chengdu.
