India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025, ending a five-year suspension that followed heightened border tensions, particularly the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The decision signals a cautious diplomatic thaw between the two Asian powers after years of strained relations.
The Indian Embassy in China, via a post on Sina Weibo, confirmed that Chinese citizens can begin applying for tourist visas by:
-
Completing an online application
-
Scheduling an appointment
-
Personally submitting their passport and documents at Indian Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
This marks the first issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals since 2020, when India halted them following the deadly skirmish in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, which resulted in casualties on both sides. In the aftermath, India had tightened scrutiny over Chinese investments, banned over 200 Chinese apps, and suspended direct tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
While business and diplomatic visas had gradually resumed in the intervening years, tourist visas remained frozen—making this resumption a significant move, possibly influenced by stabilizing border talks and a shift in geopolitical strategy.
Chinese state-run outlet Global Times acknowledged the development as an important step toward normalizing bilateral ties, though political undercurrents remain. The visa resumption may also be aimed at boosting tourism and soft diplomacy amid India’s broader global outreach strategy.
