(NEW DELHI, INDIA) The Chinese Embassy in India will launch a new online visa application system for Indian citizens on December 22, 2025, in a step that both governments see as a sign of slowly improving ties after years of sharp tension and travel limits.
What changes on December 22, 2025
From that date, Indian travelers heading to China for tourism, business, study, or family visits will be able to fill in their visa application form and upload supporting documents through the embassy’s official visa website, the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in New Delhi: https://visaforchina.cn/DEL3_EN/qianzhengyewu.
- Applicants will still need to visit the visa center in person later for biometric data or document checks.
- Most paperwork will move online, which should cut the time spent at the counter.
The Chinese Embassy in India said the New Delhi visa center will continue to operate under its regular weekday schedule, from Monday to Friday, with no change to its address or contact details. Staff there are expected to focus more on checking pre-submitted digital forms and helping applicants who may struggle with the online tools, rather than managing long queues of people filling out paper forms on site.
Benefits for applicants
By shifting much of the process online, Chinese officials promise:
- Shorter waiting times and fewer repeat visits
- The ability to review entries at home and upload scans of passports and supporting documents
- Only a single in-person visit once applicants are ready
This predictability is especially valuable for:
- Indian students planning months ahead
- Business travelers and companies with cross-border operations
- Travel agents and universities coordinating admissions or trips
How the system will work (practical steps)
- Complete the application form online on the official portal.
- Upload electronic copies of passport, photographs, and supporting paperwork.
- Book an appointment online for biometric capture / original-document verification.
- Visit the New Delhi center for the in-person step.
- Await visa stamping and passport collection once approved.
Immigration lawyers in New Delhi note the online prompts should reduce common mistakes (missing signatures, incomplete addresses), because the system requires certain fields before allowing progress. However, applicants must still read instructions carefully to ensure details match passports and travel plans.
Context: part of a broader thaw in 2025
The online launch is one element of a package of confidence-building steps agreed between New Delhi and Beijing in 2025, following the most serious downturn in relations in decades.
Key related developments in 2025:
- October 2025: Resumption of direct commercial flights between India and China, restoring a key link for students, businesspeople, and families.
- Revival of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrimage route, a spiritually and symbolically important corridor that passes through areas under Chinese control.
- November 2025: India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals worldwide, ending a near five-year freeze (business visas had already been issued earlier).
VisaVerge.com analysis frames this move as part of China reopening more consular services after pandemic- and politics-driven constraints. Visa provisions had been heavily curtailed after the 2020 border clashes, which froze many exchanges.
Physical center’s role (what stays the same)
The Chinese Visa Application Service Center in New Delhi will remain the main physical touchpoint. Its responsibilities include:
- Checking original documents
- Taking fingerprints where required
- Collecting passports for visa stamping after approval
Officials emphasize there will be no change to the center’s location or opening hours, which should reassure regular users.
Impact on students and businesses
- Students applying to Chinese universities for 2026 intake may find it easier to chain admission letters to visa applications and tickets, reducing stress for first-time travelers.
- Businesses that send engineers, managers, or technicians on short-notice assignments hope the online system will offer more consistent processing, aiding trade and joint ventures that were affected by past restrictions.
Political backdrop and limits
While consular links are improving, the broader political context remains sensitive with unresolved border disputes. For now, officials appear to be separating routine travel and economic contact from higher-level security disputes. The visa and flight steps in 2025, including the December 22 online launch, illustrate this approach.
Official guidance and recommendations
- The Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, announced the rollout and encouraged Indian citizens to check the visa portal for detailed instructions.
- Travelers are advised to use the New Delhi visa center website as the main reference for forms, document lists, and appointment booking rather than third-party sites or outdated guidance: https://visaforchina.cn/DEL3_EN/qianzhengyewu.
Applicants who want to confirm rules on the Indian side can consult the Ministry of External Affairs of India: https://www.mea.gov.in.
Practical tips for applicants:
- Keep copies of all documents uploaded through the Chinese system.
- Ensure passports have sufficient validity and blank pages before starting the process.
- Prepare the standard requirements: valid passport, completed visa application form, and proof of travel or stay.
🔔 Book your biometric appointment soon after online submission and keep both digital and physical copies of all uploaded documents handy for the in-person verification at the New Delhi center.
For many families, students, and business travelers who have waited years to return to China, the opening of the online visa application system on December 22, 2025 is more than a technical upgrade. It is a concrete sign that, despite lingering mistrust and unresolved disputes, both countries are again willing to let their people meet, study, trade, and travel face to face.
The Chinese Embassy in India will introduce an online visa application system on December 22, 2025, allowing Indians to submit forms and documents digitally before a single in-person appointment at the New Delhi visa center for biometrics and document verification. The center’s hours and location remain unchanged. Officials expect reduced wait times and fewer repeat visits, aiding students, business travelers, and travel organizers. The move is part of broader 2025 measures, including resumed direct flights and restored tourist visa issuance.
