Two most populous countries on the planet, sitting right next to each other. Yet when it comes to touring each other’s countries, citizens of both countries have found it difficult to do so, especially in the last five years. However, now it is set to change! In a historic move to repair bilateral ties, India will resume tourist visas for Chinese tourists after a 5-year hiatus. While China lifted tourist visa restrictions for Indian tourists in March itself, India’s reciprocal move to grant tourist visas for Chinese tourists is seen as welcoming and is being hailed by citizens of both countries. Here’s all the information you need to know about this newest development in Indo-China relations.
India-China Diplomatic Friction: 2020 Pandemic, Galwan Valley Clash, And Ban On Chinese Apps
In 2020, India suspended all tourist visas to Chinese tourists as the spread of Covid-19 led to a global halt in tourism and travel. Plus, India and China haven’t had the best diplomatic relations, thanks to a disputed de facto border called the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
This border has been widely disputed and disregarded by both countries, resulting in several moments of friction, like the 1962 Ind-China War as an example. Diplomatic relations between the two faltered even more when Indian and Chinese soldiers fatally confronted each other in a hand-to-hand battle in the disputed Galwan Valley area. This confrontation alone resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers.
Its aftermath was no less significant – India banned multiple Chinese apps, heightened scrutiny of Chinese investments in the country, and direct air routes between the two countries were canceled. Even as global travel was gaining momentum some time after a year of the Covid-19 pandemic, both countries had maintained their visa restrictions.
Tourist Visas For Chinese Tourists: India Lifts Visa Restrictions
It was in March 2025 that China lifted tourist visa restrictions for Indian nationals. This came after Beijing and New Delhi, capital cities of both countries, announced that they would work to resume direct air travel.
Now, India’s reciprocal move to resume tourist visas for Chinese tourists is being hailed by people of both countries. Post-covid era for inbound tourism (foreign tourists visiting a certain country) has been significant yet slow in India. Now with the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese tourists, inbound tourism will likely see positive growth. Plus, this move by India will only benefit Indian tour operators, hotel owners, restaurants, and other service providers.
In an official statement released by the Embassy of India in China, they said that Chinese citizens can freely apply for a tourist visa to India. For that, they must complete an online application, schedule an appointment, and personally submit their passport and other required documents to the Indian Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
“Please be informed that all passport withdrawal requests for applications submitted in the India Visa Application Center in Beijing must be accompanied by a passport withdrawal letter..,” the statement added.
Resumption Of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Earlier this year, India and China explored ways to rebuild ties and agreed to initiate efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights and resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year. The Yatra was suspended since the outbreak of Covid-19.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry warmly welcomed this new development and stated, “We take note of India’s resumption of tourist visas for Chinese citizens. This is a positive move”, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X.
This development comes just over a week after External Affairs Minister of India, Mr. S. Jaishankar visited China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meet in the first-half of July 2025. In this meeting, he and his Chinese counterpart Mr. Wang Yi reviewed the progress in the past nine months (November 2024 to July 2025) towards the normalization of bilateral ties between the two countries. They also discussed progress made to address de-escalation on the Indo-China border.
Thanks to the continuous efforts of India’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra began on June 30, 2025 after almost five years. This was one of India’s top priorities in the talks to normalize bilateral ties in 2024. Soon, direct flights between Indian and Chinese cities will resume, facilitating increased tourism in both countries.
Summing Up
With India lifting visa restrictions for Chinese tourists, it is expected that tourism in India will likely see a boost as hundreds and thousands of Chinese tourists will visit the country in the upcoming months. Similarly, Indian tourists will also be able to visit China. With direct flights resuming between major cities like Delhi and Beijing, tourism in both countries will definitely gain a major boost and help strengthen bilateral Indo-China ties.
