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Indian professionals are facing a new hurdle when travelling to China for work, with business visa approvals being slashed dramatically, according to reports. According to TravelBizMonitor.com and Travel World Online, executives in India's electronics and automobile manufacturing sectors say Chinese authorities have been approving a much smaller proportion of business visa applications in recent months, compared with the near-total approval rates seen previously. The tighter controls are reportedly causing delays to factory visits, supplier meetings, technical assignments and manufacturing projects.
The development comes at an awkward time for India-China relations. After years of severely restricted travel following the 2020 border clash, direct flights have returned and are expanding rapidly. Yet, while there are increasingly more seats available between the two countries, Indian businesses are finding it harder to get the people who need to use them into China.
Business visa approvals reportedly fall to 20–40%
According to executives at some electronics and automobile contract manufacturing companies, Chinese authorities have approved only around 20–40% of applications submitted by some companies over the past few months. Previously, approval rates were reportedly close to 100%.
Applicants are also facing longer processing times and more frequent rejections, with some companies having to submit fresh applications. Indian businesses affected by the changes have reportedly raised the issue with their government and urged it to address the matter through diplomatic channels.
The impact could be particularly significant for manufacturers that depend on regular movement between India and China. Indian companies remain heavily reliant on Chinese components, capital equipment and technical expertise, with some sectors importing as much as half of their components and capital goods from China.
However, the restrictions appear to be focused on business or M-category visas, rather than representing a blanket suspension of Chinese visas for Indian nationals. Chinese Visa Application Service Centres in India continue to accept applications, although travellers are being advised to apply well in advance where processing delays are expected.
More flights, fewer visas?
The timing of the visa squeeze is particularly striking because India-China air connectivity has been moving in the opposite direction. Direct passenger services resumed in late 2025 after an almost six-year hiatus. Since then, capacity has expanded dramatically. Scheduled direct seat capacity reportedly increased from just 1,116 seats across six flights in October 2025 to 35,019 seats across 164 flights in May 2026. Air India also restarted its Delhi-Shanghai non-stop service in February, operating four flights a week, with further expansion planned subject to regulatory approval.
The result is an unusual situation for business travellers: there are significantly more flights available, but fewer guarantees that the people who need to travel will be able to get a visa.
A difficult backdrop for India-China business
The latest restrictions come against the backdrop of the prolonged deterioration in relations following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which triggered a more than four-year military standoff.
India subsequently introduced tighter investment rules for Chinese companies and significantly restricted visas for Chinese nationals, with exceptions largely made for technical personnel supporting Indian companies under its production-linked incentive programme.
But there have been signs of a gradual thaw more recently. In December 2025, India reportedly removed an additional layer of scrutiny for Chinese business visa applications, cutting processing times to less than a month. The move was described as a significant step towards restoring business links between the two countries.
China welcomed India's move at the time, with its Foreign Ministry saying that facilitating cross-border travel was in the interests of both countries. The latest difficulties therefore raise questions about whether the reopening of economic and people-to-people links will continue smoothly.
What does this mean for Indian professionals?
For Indian executives, engineers and technical specialists who regularly travel to China, the immediate impact is likely to be more uncertainty and longer lead times.
The reported restrictions could affect professionals travelling to:
• Visit factories and production facilities
• Meet Chinese suppliers and business partners
• Oversee manufacturing operations
• Install or maintain equipment
• Provide technical support
• Attend trade fairs and business events
• Manage China-India supply chains
The eChinaCities take
Whether the reported visa restrictions are a temporary tightening or part of a longer-term shift remains unclear, but for Indian professionals planning a trip to China, one thing is becoming increasingly important: apply early and don't assume that the visa process will be as straightforward as it was before.
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Keywords: business visa approval rates China business visa
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