In a significant move to ease travel formalities, China has officially launched a new online visa application system specifically for Indian citizens. This initiative, which comes into effect from December 22, 2025, is designed to simplify paperwork and cut down on the number of physical visits required to consular offices. The step is seen as part of a cautious effort by Beijing and New Delhi to rebuild people-to-people connections after several years of strained relations and disruptions.
How the New China Visa Online System Works
The system was announced by the Chinese Embassy in India through a post on social media platform X. Indian applicants can now access the official portal at visaforchina.cn/DEL3_EN/qianzh to handle key stages of their visa application digitally.
According to detailed guidelines from the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in New Delhi, the process mandates applicants to first visit the centre's official website. There, they must create or log into an account to fill out the visa application form and upload all necessary supporting documents online.
The official notice underscores a critical point: applicants must wait until their application status shows "online review completed" and they have received a confirmation email before proceeding to submit their physical passport at the visa centre. The notice explicitly warns that incomplete online submissions will not be accepted for offline processing.
Visa Categories, Fees, and Tracking
The newly launched digital platform supports several major visa categories for Indian applicants. These include Tourist visas (L), Business visas (M), Student visas (X), and Work visas (Z). While biometric submission will still necessitate one in-person visit, the overall process is streamlined, reducing typical consulate visits from two to just one.
A key feature of the system is the ability for applicants to track their visa status in real-time online, eliminating the need for repeated calls or visits to check progress.
Visa fees, payable in Indian Rupees, have been detailed by the centre. The fee structure varies based on the type of visa and the applicant's nationality. For Indian citizens, the fees are as follows:
- Single Entry Visa: ₹2,900
- Double Entry Visa: ₹4,400
- Half-Year Multiple Entry Visa: ₹5,900
- One-Year Multiple Entry Visa: ₹8,800
In addition to the visa fee, a mandatory application service fee is charged by the centre. For regular service (with collection expected on the 6th working day), this fee is ₹1,973. Express and other premium services cost ₹2,908. It is important to note that the service fee is non-refundable, and the total payable amount is the sum of the visa fee and the service fee.
Payments can be made via UnionPay in INR, helping applicants avoid foreign exchange mark-ups.
Broader Context of India-China Visa Thaw
This digital rollout aligns with a wider reset in the visa regime between the two neighbouring giants. The move follows confirmation from India's Ministry of External Affairs that its visa system for Chinese nationals is now fully operational. This resumption comes after a five-year suspension that was triggered by the border clashes in 2020.
India had officially resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals globally in November 2025, building upon a limited reopening that started in July of the same year. Business visas had been restored even earlier.
The physical Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in New Delhi will continue to operate alongside the new online system. It is located at the Concourse Floor, Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
This mutual easing of travel procedures marks a tentative but concrete step towards normalising civilian and commercial exchanges, reflecting the complex yet incrementally improving diplomatic landscape between India and China.
