Chinese visa issuance for Indian business travellers has become markedly more restrictive, risking delays and supply chain disruptions for industries reliant on cross-border cooperation amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions.
China is making it harder for Indian business travellers to secure visas, creating fresh friction for companies that depend on cross-border work in electronics, automobiles and other manufacturing sectors. Indian executives now face longer waits and a higher chance of rejection, according to the report by TV9 Hindi, which said several contract manufacturers have seen only 20% to 40% of recent applications approved, far below previous levels.
The tighter scrutiny matters because many Indian factories still rely heavily on Chinese components, machinery and technical expertise. Industry estimates cited in the report suggest Chinese parts and capital goods can account for as much as half of the inputs used in some sectors, meaning a delayed trip is not just an inconvenience. It can slow plant set-up, equipment checks, supplier meetings and production-linked technical discussions.
Companies have taken the matter to the central government informally, urging New Delhi to raise the issue diplomatically with Beijing. The TV9 Hindi report quoted a person familiar with India-China ties as saying Beijing could be using visa approvals as one of several tools to complicate India’s economic progress, although that view was presented as a claim rather than a confirmed official position. China’s embassy in New Delhi did not respond to questions, the report said.
The complaints come against a longer backdrop of strained ties after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which sent relations into a deep freeze and prompted India to tighten rules on Chinese investment under Press Note 3 and to toughen visa norms for Chinese citizens. Reuters and other outlets have reported that both sides have, at different points, tried to ease some travel bottlenecks: Business Standard said China issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens in the first four months of 2025 after relaxing rules, while China Briefing said India had also streamlined business visa approvals for Chinese professionals. Even so, the latest reports from Indian travellers suggest the flow remains uneven, and any prolonged clampdown could further strain supply chains and project timelines for manufacturers that still depend on China.
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