New Delhi/Beijing: India has officially resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a five-year suspension following years of strained ties.
The Indian embassy in Beijing made the announcement through China’s popular social media platform Weibo. Beijing welcomes the development as a positive diplomatic gesture.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun called the move a “positive step,” adding that China was “willing to work with India to further promote people-to-people exchanges.”
India suspended tourist visas for Chinese nationals in 2020 following a deadly military clash between the two countries in the Galwan Valley, which claimed the lives of at least 20 Indian soldiers. The incident, which took place along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC), triggered a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.
In the aftermath, India imposed a series of measures against China, including investment restrictions and the banning of numerous Chinese apps. Both countries also halted direct flights and suspended most visa services, citing pandemic-related concerns and worsening political tensions.
The Embassy of India in China announced that starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India. This marks the first time since the suspension in 2020 that India has resumed issuing #touristvisa to Chinese citizens. #ChinaIndia #HenanTravel pic.twitter.com/8B2BRoWfPW
— Visit Henan (@Visit_Henan) July 24, 2025
Relations began to ease in 2022 when China resumed issuing visas to Indian citizens. Momentum continued last year when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia. The two leaders agreed to enhance communication and find peaceful solutions to ongoing disputes.
More recently, in June 2025, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in New Delhi. Discussions focused on resuming direct air links, sharing data on transboundary rivers, and improving people-to-people engagement.
Between January and April 2025, China issued 85,000 visas to Indian citizens, indicating increasing cross-border movement. Chinese citizens can now apply for tourist visas starting July 24 at Indian missions in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The timing coincides with preparations for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence summit scheduled to take place in China in August.
Though longstanding issues such as the border dispute remain unresolved, the resumption of tourist visa services is widely seen as a goodwill gesture aimed at restoring confidence and rebuilding trust.
