India Updates Visa Rules for Chinese Nationals Five Years After Galwan Clashes

New Delhi: More than five years after the Galwan clashes, the Union home ministry has issued revised modalities for granting regular tourist visas to nationals of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, officials told ET. Visa conditions for Buddhist pilgrims and family members of Chinese diplomats have also been eased to facilitate travel to India. However, a decision on extending e-visa facilities is still pending, they added.

The move follows a series of steps last year, including a January 2025 agreement between India and China to resume direct passenger flights. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, suspended for five years, was also revived in June 2025. Officials said all foreign nationals entering India must carry a valid passport or UN laissez-passer along with a visa issued by an Indian mission or post abroad.

As per existing MHA guidelines, foreigners are prohibited from carrying satellite phones into India on tourist visas. Such devices will be seized on detection, and violations will invite strict action under Indian law. The restriction assumes significance in light of the 2025 Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 tourists were killed in Baisaran Valley. Investigators had relied on human intelligence and satellite phone data to track down the Pakistani militant involved.

Regular visas cover categories such as tourist, business, employment, student and entry visas for Chinese nationals. The process involves completing an online application and submitting a hard copy with supporting documents and fees at a visa facilitation centre, officials said. In 2019, India had introduced five-year multiple-entry e-tourist visas for Chinese nationals, along with a lower-fee 30-day single-entry option.