New Delhi / Beijing, July 23, 2025: In a significant diplomatic development, India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals starting July 24, ending a suspension that lasted for more than five years following the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. The announcement signals a cautious yet notable step toward normalisation of strained bilateral ties between the two Asian giants.
The Indian Embassy in China made the announcement on Chinese social media platform Weibo, outlining the process for visa applications. “From July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India. They must first fill out the visa application form online, print it, and then make an appointment. Afterwards, they must submit their passport, visa form, and relevant documents at the Indian Visa Application Center,” the embassy said in its post.
According to officials, visa applications can be submitted at centers located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, as confirmed by China’s state-affiliated Global Times, which also shared the development on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Background: A Gradual Thaw in Tensions
Tourist visas for Chinese citizens had been suspended since early 2020 following the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh that left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers dead. The incident sharply escalated tensions, leading India to ban hundreds of Chinese mobile apps, restrict investments, and halt direct commercial flights between the two countries.
The ban on tourist visas was also reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 2022 International Air Transport Association (IATA) advisory stating that India would not honour previously issued tourist visas for Chinese nationals.
India’s move was also seen as a reciprocal response after China restricted the return of nearly 22,000 Indian students pursuing medical and other higher studies, citing COVID-19 protocols.
Warming Signals: Trade, Travel and Pilgrimage
Earlier this year, signs of diplomatic warming emerged as both sides agreed to resume direct commercial flights between New Delhi and Beijing, a decision that followed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s official visit to China. During that visit, the two countries also agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in Tibet, which had been halted since the pandemic.
While many core issues between India and China remain unresolved — particularly the ongoing border standoff in eastern Ladakh — the resumption of tourist visas is being seen as a positive confidence-building measure.
Diplomatic observers believe that while ties are unlikely to return to pre-2020 levels anytime soon, such incremental steps reflect a mutual willingness to re-engage on softer aspects of the relationship, such as tourism, education, and people-to-people contact.
