India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens beginning July 24, 2025. This move comes after a five-year suspension enacted in 2020, marking a significant thaw in relations and reopening travel pathways between the two Asian giants.
The issuance of Indian tourist visas to Chinese nationals was halted in 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent border tensions between India and China. The freeze on travel severely impacted people-to-people exchanges, tourism, and commercial interactions. Over these five years, only limited categories such as business, employment, diplomatic, and student visas had been considered for resumption, leaving leisure travelers unable to visit.
The announcement was made by the Indian Embassy in Beijing on July 23, 2025. The embassy confirmed that from July 24 onward, applications for tourist visas from Chinese citizens would be processed again. This is the first time since the suspension that Chinese nationals can officially apply for Indian tourist visas through standard channels, including the e-visa platform.
India and China, despite sharing a history of complex diplomatic relations, have made recent overtures to mend ties. In meetings held in June 2025, officials from both countries stressed the importance of people-to-people exchanges and agreed to facilitate tourism, cultural activities, and even the sacred Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
Chinese nationals seeking to travel to India will now be eligible to apply for:
Regular paper tourist visas via the embassy or consulate.
Electronic tourist visas (e-TV) for varying durations, contingent on fulfilling the stipulated requirements.
The restart of tourist visas is projected to bring a surge of Chinese visitors to India’s prominent tourist attractions, from the Taj Mahal to Kerala’s backwaters and Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Prior to the 2020 freeze, China ranked among the top 20 source countries for tourism to India. The move also coincides with efforts to restart direct air connectivity, further easing access for travelers and businesspeople.
Tourism and hospitality sectors in India expect a boost in arrivals, helping revive revenues plagued by pandemic-era downturns. It further sets a precedent for broader people-to-people contacts between the neighboring nations.
