India Reopens to Chinese Tourists After 5-Year Hiatus

India formally opened up the issue of tourist visas to Chinese nationals from July 24, 2025, after a five-year embargo imposed on the back of the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. The decision, made through the Sina Weibo account of the Indian Embassy, marks a tentative but significant warming of India-China relations, with both nations aiming to revitalize people-to-people contact alongside high-level diplomatic engagements.
Chinese citizens can now apply for an ordinary Tourist Visa (T) or an e Tourist Visa (e TV) by completing an online application form, scheduling an appointment, and submitting their passport and necessary documents in person at one of three Indian Visa Application Centres located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The process was detailed in a social-media bulletin, which also noted that all applications would be reviewed under India's current visa rules and security protocols.
The timing aligns with India's broader effort to normalize bilateral ties ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. While China had already resumed issuing visas for Indian business visitors and students in 2022, this new step opens the door for cultural exchange and leisure travel. The Chinese Foreign Ministry welcomed the development, even as it criticized some requirements as "unreasonable," underscoring ongoing political sensitivities.
Tourism experts believe the restart of tourist visa issuance will boost India's inbound tourism industry, which has struggled to recover post-COVID-19 and amid diplomatic strains. In 2019, over 3 million Chinese tourists visited India, spending nearly $2 billion on travel, accommodations, and local services. The move is expected to benefit key tourist hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, and Goa.
Meanwhile, Indian security agencies reiterated that visa screening will remain thorough. "Resuming tourist visas does not imply any relaxation in vetting procedures," stated a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs. "We remain committed to national security while enhancing international tourism."
Even as visa centers begin operations this week, Chinese travel agencies are already experiencing a rise in inquiries and bookings. With flight connectivity between India and China gradually returning, analysts hope this decision signals a broader resumption of cross-border travel and a renewed tourism partnership between the two Asian giants.