India to Ease Business Visas for Chinese Executives from Vivo, Xiaomi

(INDIA) India is preparing to ease business visa restrictions for senior executives from China in 2025, a major policy shift after nearly five years of tight curbs imposed following the 2020 border clashes. As of August 21, 2025, government and industry sources say the change is expected to take effect within weeks and will open the door for CEOs, country heads, and non-technical leaders from Chinese electronics and appliance firms to return to India. Companies affected include Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi, BYD, Hisense, Haier, and joint ventures tied to these brands.

Under the new approach, officials have begun signaling approval for non-technical roles long blocked from entry. That covers leadership in sales, marketing, finance, and human resources—functions that keep factories running, supply chains steady, and partner relationships healthy. This is a marked turn from the post-2020 period, when only technical specialists—often those tied to India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes—received visas. Executives say the shift will help restore on-the-ground decision-making that remote work could not match.

Industry contacts say Chinese firms have instructed top managers to start filing business visa applications now, anticipating faster movement by consular offices in the coming days. Most non-technical business visa applications for senior roles are expected to be approved, according to sources familiar with current reviews. While formal notices are pending, several companies are already organizing travel plans for leaders who have not set foot in India since 2020.

Policy shift and timeline

The government’s change follows a steady diplomatic thaw this year, including reciprocal ministerial visits, restored direct flights, and agreements to resume tourist travel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tianjin later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where he will meet President Xi Jinping. Stakeholders expect that meeting to support the rollout of the new business visa approach.

Officials and company representatives say the policy could become operational “within weeks,” subject to final notifications.

The earlier restrictions had wide effects. Senior executives at large Chinese brands spent years trying to manage Indian operations from abroad. That created delays in approvals, compliance checks, and partner coordination.

• BYD India struggled to meet the Companies Act requirement for director residency because visas were denied.
• Carrier Midea could not obtain a visa for its deputy managing director for three years.
• Indian contract manufacturers like Dixon Technologies and PG Electroplast had to send teams to China to keep projects moving and protect technical ties.

These workarounds raised costs, slowed decisions, and strained relationships that depend on regular, in-person contact.

A parallel change is already in place on the electronic business visa front. As of February 2025, Chinese nationals can apply for an e-Business Visa in select sectors such as Chemicals, Commerce, Telecom, Food Processing, and Heavy Industries. The e-visa allows multiple entries for up to six months and is faster than regular business visas, though it remains the only e-visa category open to Chinese applicants, with other e-visa types still suspended.

For official instructions, applicants should monitor the Government of India’s visa portal at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/.

Business impact and practical steps

The return of senior managers from China will be felt first in electronics, appliances, and automotive supply chains, where planning cycles move fast and vendor decisions hinge on face-to-face reviews.

Immediate benefits expected:

• Country heads can restart market checks, meet Indian regulators in person, and finalize budgets.
• Sales and marketing leaders can align dealers and service networks ahead of the festive season.
• Finance chiefs can handle audits and banking compliance more effectively.
• HR leaders can stabilize hiring and retention at factories expanded under the PLI program.

Indian manufacturers working with Chinese brands expect smoother joint ventures as visiting executives once again stand on the shop floor to solve problems in real time. Policy analysts call this a pragmatic step to rebuild economic interdependence while allowing for regular security reviews. Industry executives describe the change as a “welcome relief,” noting it will reduce costly travel by Indian partners who previously flew to China to keep projects on track.

Government messaging and expected sequence

For now, the government has signaled a clear sequence:

1. Companies should submit business visa applications for non-technical senior roles beyond the earlier technical focus.
2. Authorities are preparing to clear most of these applications, especially for:
   • CEOs
   • Country heads
   • General managers
   • Leaders in sales, marketing, finance, and HR
3. Consular offices will apply standard checks and routine follow-ups even as approvals increase.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, firms linked to large consumer brands—Vivo and Xiaomi among them—have already started preparing documentation, travel schedules, and India visit plans for their top leadership teams.

e-Business Visa vs regular business visa

The e-Business Visa remains useful but limited. For longer stays or roles outside listed sectors, regular business visas will still be necessary.

Practical recommendations for companies and partners

Executives should prepare for staged travel as approvals ramp up:

• Priority travel sequence:
  1. Country heads, finance, and legal leaders to fix compliance gaps
  2. Sales and HR teams to restart hiring and dealer engagement
  3. Broader leadership for product launches and factory upgrades
• Indian partners should prepare meeting agendas and site visit plans to maximize time once leaders arrive.
• Early focus areas:
  • Vendor audits
  • Logistics planning ahead of holiday demand
  • Re-aligning quality systems that drifted during remote operations

Xiaomi India has publicly welcomed the move, saying global leadership is eager to return and deepen market engagement. Other brands are planning similar returns. Many companies paused senior hiring or delayed product cycles because top decision-makers could not enter India. A smoother business visa process should speed product launches, factory upgrades, and service improvements that require senior sign-off on the ground.

Caveats, next steps, and outlook

This is not a full reset yet. Officials stress that final government notifications will set the exact contours, and the broader e-visa program for Chinese nationals remains restricted to the business category in listed sectors.

Key points to note:

• The direction is clear: non-technical senior roles are back in scope, and approvals are expected to flow as diplomatic ties improve.
• If the current pace holds, further easing could follow later, potentially widening e-visa coverage and reducing wait times for both business and technical roles.

For companies and applicants, the immediate action is simple:

1. File business visa applications for senior positions now.
2. Monitor consular updates and the SCO summit outcomes.
3. Coordinate travel schedules given restored direct flights and the diplomatic thaw.

With the SCO summit ahead and direct flights restored, the window for in-person leadership in India is opening again—this time with a focus on practical business needs over remote workarounds.