India Resumes Tourist Visas for Chinese Nationals After 5-Year Pause

New Delhi: India has reopened tourist visas for Chinese nationals applying through Indian missions and consulates around the world, a move that signals the ongoing effort to normalise ties after the long-running military stand-off on the Line of Actual Control. Tourist visas for Chinese nationals were opened up at Indian embassies and consulates globally earlier this week, according to people familiar with the matter. The visas had been suspended since the start of the face-off in 2020 and the Galwan Valley clash that claimed lives on both sides.

There has been a flurry of small steps aimed at boosting people-to-people exchanges even as both countries work to stabilise relations. Direct flights between the two nations resumed in October, and the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra to the sacred sites in Tibet is being planned for the summer. The government has also signalled visa facilitation for various categories of travelers and marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties with continued diplomatic engagements.

Analysts say the revamp in visa policy comes as part of a broader effort to normalise ties and encourage business and tourism flows, while keeping security and border management in mind. With this resumption, Chinese visitors can now apply for tourist visas at Indian missions, rather than requiring special channels, potentially boosting cross-border tourism and people-to-people contact.

While officials have not announced a formal policy rollout, the move is being viewed as a practical step to deepen bilateral engagement after years of strain. Observers say the evolution in visa rules could help calibrate other cooperative ventures, including trade and cultural exchanges, and may set the stage for broader regional stabilisation.

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