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India reopens doors: Tourist Visas for Chinese travellers resumes today after a gap of 5 years

India reopens doors: Tourist Visas for Chinese travellers resumes today after a gap of 5 years

Time of India24-07-2025
Good news for Chinese travellers wanting to explore India! In a recent update shared on newsonair.gov.in (Akashvani), India has started issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals from 24th July, 2025, after a long pause of five years.
Tourist visas can be applied online on the official website.
The news was shared via an official notice posted online and on Chinese social media, that the applicants can start applying for the visas from Thursday (July 24, 2025). The visas can be obtained after an appointment at the Indian Embassy in Beijing and other consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou.
The information shared also mentioned that the Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa after filling an online application and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to the Indian Visa Application Centres.
Those planning to apply for visa must know that the Indian Visa Application Centers in China are located at:
Beijing
: 5th Floor, Block A, Guangcheng Plaza, No. 18 East Third Ring North Road, Chaoyang District
Shanghai
: Room 11B38, No. 2299 West Yan'an Road, Changning District
Guangzhou
: Room 2401A, North Tower, Fuli Yingli Building, No. 3-2 Huacheng Avenue, Tianhe District
China reacts
Soon after the announcement, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson also took to social media, and announced, 'We take note of India's resumption of tourist visas for Chinese citizens.
This is a positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.'
Why was the gap
There's no denying that Asia's two most powerful nations and neighbours did not share a good relationship in the last five years due to diplomatic issues. It was a bad time for tourists as it was really difficult for Indian and Chinese travellers to explore or holiday in each other's nations.
Apparently, the political tension between India and China escalated after the COVID-19 pandemic. Several acts of violence were reported between the two militaries after Chinese troops started marching. Soon after, India and China cancelled most visa services between them, including the tourist visas.
It is definitely a positive move that will make travellers in both countries happy!
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