India is resuming tourist visas for Chinese and Hong Kong nationals, with the Union Home Ministry issuing a revised framework that also eases conditions for Buddhist pilgrims and family members of Chinese diplomats. A decision on e-visa access remains pending.
The move is part of a broader thaw in relations. Direct passenger flights between the two countries resumed following a January 2025 agreement, and the long-suspended Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was revived in June 2025. Visas on offer will span tourist, business, student, employment, and entry categories, with applications processed through visa facilitation centres.
Some restrictions remain in place. Tourists are barred from carrying satellite phones into India, with violations subject to strict legal consequences. These measures follow the 2020 Pahalgam attack, in which 26 tourists were killed in Baisaran Valley.
In a related development, 14 additional seaports have been designated as immigration checkpoints for e-visa holders, with several already operational across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
