After a five-year pause, India has officially resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens starting July 24, 2025. This significant development marks the first time since 2020—when visa issuance was suspended following a violent clash in the Galwan Valley—that Chinese travelers can apply to visit India for tourism. The announcement was made by the Indian Embassy in Beijing via a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo and welcomed by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a positive move towards easing tensions.
Why Were Chinese Tourist Visas Suspended?
In June 2020, a deadly military confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers along their contested Himalayan border escalated tensions, resulting in casualties on both sides. In response to this and the COVID-19 pandemic, India suspended tourist visas for Chinese nationals amidst a series of restrictions that also included banning certain Chinese investments and blocking popular Chinese apps within India. China’s visa issuance to Indian citizens was similarly curtailed during this period.
While other restrictions slowly eased and China resumed issuing visas for Indian students and business travelers in 2022, tourist visa issuance for Chinese citizens remained frozen. The border tensions and diplomatic strains continued to overshadow bilateral exchanges for nearly five years.
What Has Changed Now ?
India’s decision to restart tourist visa issuance reflects a warming of relations and growing diplomatic efforts to normalize ties. Recent high-level dialogues between officials from both countries—including a notable meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the 2024 BRICS summit—have paved the way for this positive step.
Chinese nationals can now apply for tourist visas by completing online application forms and submitting documents at Indian Visa Application Centers in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The Indian Embassy has simplified the application process to encourage more applicants and quickly process visas.
Potential Impact of Resuming Visas
1. Revitalizing Tourism
Before the suspension, Chinese tourists were among the highest-spending foreign visitors to India, with approximately 340,000 arrivals in 2019. The suspension resulted in a dramatic drop in numbers to just over 30,000 visitors by 2023. Resuming tourist visas is expected to revive tourism to popular destinations like Delhi, Agra, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and more, boosting local economies and supporting hospitality businesses.
2. Economic Benefits
The reopening will significantly benefit India’s tourism sector, which supports millions of jobs and generates substantial foreign exchange. Hotels, tour operators, transport providers, and local artisans stand to gain as travel resumes. Many Indian states are preparing special promotions to attract Chinese tourists.
3. Strengthening People-to-People Ties
Tourism fosters cultural exchange and mutual understanding, which can soften diplomatic tensions over time. Renewed travel opportunities will help bridge the gap between ordinary citizens of the two countries and promote goodwill.
4. Business and Education Opportunities
Although the current move primarily covers tourist visas, it lays the groundwork for expanded visa facilitation in other areas such as business and education, potentially boosting collaboration.
5. Diplomatic Significance
The decision is a visible step in ongoing efforts to calm border disputes and improve bilateral relations. Representatives from India and China are set to meet again later this year in India to discuss border issues and practical cooperation.
What to Expect Going Forward?
India’s visa resumption is likely the first of many steps to restore normalized people-to-people and economic links. Indian authorities will monitor visa issuance and travel volumes carefully. Meanwhile, diplomatic engagements will continue to address broader strategic and security concerns.
Conclusion
India’s move to resume tourist visas for Chinese citizens after a five-year freeze is a cautious but hopeful gesture towards rebuilding trust and reconnecting the two nations on multiple fronts. For students of international relations and tourism, it illustrates how diplomacy and travel policies intertwine to shape bilateral ties. As more Chinese tourists return, India stands to gain economically and culturally while advancing a more stable partnership with its northern neighbour.
