Tourist Visa Services Restart From July 24
India will reopen its tourist visa services for Chinese nationals starting July 24, marking the end of a five-year pause. The Indian Embassy in Beijing announced that Chinese travelers can now apply for tourist visas following a streamlined process involving online applications and in-person submissions at visa centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
Visa Application Process Details
Applicants must complete an online form, schedule an appointment, and submit their passports along with required documents at designated Indian Visa Application Centers. The embassy also emphasized that passport withdrawal requests must be accompanied by a formal withdrawal letter.
Background: Disrupted Travel and Diplomatic Strains
Travel between India and China faced major interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic and heightened diplomatic tensions following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. While China gradually resumed issuing visas for Indian students and business travelers, general tourist travel remained halted.
Improving Bilateral Relations
The 2020 border clashes marked the lowest point in India-China relations since the 1962 war. However, subsequent diplomatic and military talks led to troop disengagement at several friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.
In October 2024, both nations finalized disengagement agreements at Depsang and Demchok, the final contested areas. Soon after, leaders Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping met in Kazan, agreeing on measures to improve diplomatic ties.
Renewed Efforts to Boost People-to-People Contact
This year, India and China have worked towards restoring bilateral relations, focusing on people-to-people exchanges. Plans include resuming direct flights and restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended since the pandemic began.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently noted that relations are moving in a “positive direction,” emphasizing ongoing efforts to normalize ties.
