India is set to resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens starting July 24, 2025, marking the first time in five years that such visas have been available. This decision comes as India and China work towards mending bilateral relations that were strained following the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.

The Indian Embassy in Beijing announced that Chinese citizens can apply for tourist visas by completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and submitting their passport and required documents at Indian Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

China has acknowledged the move with positivity. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Guo Jiakun, stated that China has taken note of the "positive move" and is ready to maintain communication and consultation with India to improve personal exchanges between the two countries. Guo Jiakun also said that easing cross-border travel serves the interests of all parties.

India had initially suspended all tourist visas in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the restrictions continued due to the border row in eastern Ladakh. China had also suspended visas to Indian citizens and other foreigners during the pandemic but lifted those restrictions in 2022 for students and business travelers.

The move to resume tourist visas is viewed as a step towards normalizing relations between the two countries. Tensions had escalated after the 2020 military clash along their disputed Himalayan border, leading India to impose restrictions on Chinese investments, ban Chinese apps, and cut passenger routes. In April 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a notice stating that all tourist visas for Chinese nationals would no longer be valid, a decision perceived as a "tit-for-tat" measure after China limited the re-entry of around 22,000 Indian students following the pandemic.

Recently, there have been efforts to ease tensions and improve ties. India and China agreed in principle to resume direct air services, which had been suspended since the pandemic and the Galwan crisis. They also decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. In July 2025, India's foreign minister emphasized the need to resolve border friction, pull back troops, and avoid restrictive trade measures to normalize the relationship.

The resumption of tourist visas is expected to facilitate increased people-to-people exchanges and strengthen bonds between the two nations.