Greater than 5 years after the Galwan clashes, the Union home ministry has issued revised modalities for granting common vacationer visas to nationals of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, officers advised ET.
Visa conditions for Buddhist pilgrims and relations of Chinese diplomats have additionally been eased to facilitate journey to India. Nevertheless, a call on extending e-visa services continues to be pending, they added.The transfer follows a sequence of steps final yr, together with a January 2025 settlement between India and China to renew direct passenger flights. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, suspended for 5 years, was additionally revived in June 2025.
Officers stated all overseas nationals getting into India should carry a legitimate passport or UN laissez-passer together with a visa issued by an Indian mission or submit overseas.
As per present MHA pointers, foreigners are prohibited from carrying satellite tv for pc telephones into India on vacationer visas. Such units might be seized on detection, and violations will invite strict motion below Indian legislation.
The restriction assumes significance in gentle of the 2025 Pahalgam massacre, by which 26 vacationers had been killed in Baisaran Valley. Investigators had relied on human intelligence and satellite tv for pc telephone knowledge to trace down the Pakistani militant concerned.
Common visas cowl classes resembling vacationer, enterprise, employment, scholar and entry visas for Chinese language nationals. The method entails finishing a web-based utility and submitting a tough copy with supporting paperwork and costs at a visa facilitation centre, officers stated.
In 2019, India had launched five-year multiple-entry e-tourist visas for Chinese language nationals, together with a lower-fee 30-day single-entry possibility.
