China eases visa application norms for India
China has launched an online application system in India to speed up the visa process for travelers from the South Asian nation.
The move is part of a series of “people-centric” confidence-building measures agreed on by India and China, the Hindustan Times reports.
With the new process, applicants are expected to save time during the initial stages of visa processing, as most of the documentation can now be submitted digitally.
India dropped a layer of bureaucratic scrutiny and shortened visa approval times to less than a month to fast-track business visas for Chinese professionals, Reuters reported earlier this month.
Notice Regarding Online Visa Processing ApprovalChina Online Visa Application System will be officially launched by the Chinese Embassy in India on December 22, 2025. Applicants could enjoy convenience of filling out the form and uploading application materials online by…
— Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India) December 8, 2025
A border clash in June 2020 strained relations between the two nations, resulting in stricter vetting of business visas for Chinese citizens.
In July 2025, India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens after a five-year pause.
A month later, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time since 2018, where he met with President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
In October, India and China resumed direct flights after a five-year hiatus.
Direct flights between India and China were suspended at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The border clash in June of that year further strained relations.
Beijing has said it “stands ready to work with India to view and handle the bilateral relationship from a strategic height and long-term perspective.”
Relations between the Asian neighbors have been gradually improving since last year.
