India Speeds Up Visas for Chinese Professionals Amid Thaw In Ties: Report

Last Updated:December 12, 2025, 19:00 IST

China’s foreign ministry welcomed the move, saying it had noticed “positive action” from India to improve people-to-people exchanges.

India has reduced the time taken to issue business visas to Chinese executives and professionals, by reducing administrative vetting. (File for representation)

Amid a thaw in ties, India has moved to speed up business visas for Chinese professionals. By reducing administrative vetting, India plans to issue business visas to Chinese entities within a month, news agency Reuters reported, citing two government officials.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said New Delhi has dropped an administrative vetting process and reduced visa approval time to less than four weeks. “We have removed the layer of administrative vetting and are processing the business visas within four weeks," one of the officials told the news agency.

China’s foreign ministry welcomed the move, saying it had noticed “positive action" from India to improve people-to-people exchanges. “China is willing to maintain communication and consultation with India," ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

Relations between India and China deteriorated in 2020 amid escalating border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Stricter visa checks led to an estimated $15 billion in production losses, according to the Observer Research Foundation, as electronics makers struggled to bring in Chinese technicians needed to install machinery.

Reuters earlier reported that firms like Xiaomi faced delays in securing visas, affecting expansion plans and industries such as solar manufacturing.

However, ties began to improve through persistent diplomatic and military dialogues. Momentum built in 2024 with agreements on patrolling arrangements, culminating in full disengagement from the final standoff sites at Depsang and Demchok by December 2024.

The easing of curbs followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China earlier this year— his first in seven years— where he met President Xi Jinping. Shortly after, the two countries resumed direct flights for the first time since 2020.

According to Reuters, the move was prompted by recommendations from a high-level committee chaired by former cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, which is also examining investment restrictions that have discouraged foreign investors.

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