Indien stellt wieder Touristenvisa an chinesische Staatsbürger aus: ein Schritt zur Annäherung nach fünf Jahren Pause

24.07.2025

India resumes issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens: a step toward rapprochement after a five-year pause

From July 24, 2025, India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens — for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision of the Indian government marks the end of a five-year pause and is considered an important step towards normalizing relations between the two largest economies in Asia.

Visa issuance will be carried out through visa centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Application submission includes an online form, appointment booking, and a personal visit to the center. An increase in the number of applications is expected, and consular services are prepared for the influx of applicants.

Before the pandemic in 2019, India issued about 200,000 visas to Chinese citizens. In 2024, this figure dropped to 2,000. The resumption of visa issuance has become possible against the background of revitalized bilateral dialogue, cultural and pilgrimage exchanges. In June 2025, for the first time since 2019, a group of Indian pilgrims visited Tibet, symbolizing the rapprochement of the two countries.

Negotiations are also underway to resume direct flights. Direct flights are intended to facilitate tourist and business trips, as well as academic exchanges. This will also be a stimulus for restoring economic ties.

Experts note that such a decision goes beyond tourism — it has strategic significance. India and China complement each other in the fields of trade, technology, and infrastructure. Easing visa regimes may accelerate the move towards mutual integration and sustainable economic growth in the region.