India Accelerates China Visas to Resolve Business Delays

India’s government is in the final stages of implementing measures to expedite visa processing for Chinese technicians, responding to concerns from businesses about delays hindering the country’s manufacturing ambitions.

The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, in collaboration with the ministries of home affairs and external affairs, is developing a framework to streamline visa issuance for engineers required to install Chinese machinery in Indian factories. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the objective is to reduce visa processing times to 30 days, down from the current 4-5 months.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration had tightened regulations on China after a deadly border clash in 2020 strained bilateral relations. Measures included the banning of numerous Chinese apps, delays in visa and investment approvals, and reduced direct flights between the two countries.

According to reports from local media, India granted about 2,000 visas to Chinese nationals in 2024, marking a notable decrease from the roughly 200,000 visas issued in 2019 before the pandemic.