NEW DELHI: India has reformed its business visa regime to facilitate the movement of foreign engineers and technicians, a move expected to benefit local manufacturers that rely heavily on Chinese professionals. The government said the changes would reduce delays and help companies meet technical and production needs.
Read More: India free visas for Chinese professionals to boost economic ties
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade said it launched a new digital platform last month allowing companies to generate sponsorship letters to invite foreign professionals. Authorities have also simplified visa application forms and removed the requirement to seek additional recommendations from relevant ministries.
Exclusive: India has cut red tape to speed business visas for Chinese professionals, a major step to boost ties between the Asian giants and end chronic delays that cost output worth billions of dollars because of scarce technicians https://t.co/ON3yirkMto
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 12, 2025
Officials said the relaxed visa rules apply to factory installation, commissioning, maintenance, and production activities. Indian manufacturers, particularly in electronics and solar sectors, have traditionally depended on Chinese engineers to operate machinery and train local staff in factories using Chinese equipment.
The easing of restrictions follows reports that India has cut red tape to speed up visas for Chinese professionals, signalling a cautious improvement in bilateral ties. India had virtually blocked Chinese business travel after clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours along their Himalayan border in mid-2020.
Exclusive: India has cut red tape to speed business visas for Chinese professionals, a major step to boost ties between the Asian giants and end chronic delays that cost output worth billions of dollars because of scarce technicians https://t.co/ON3yirkMto
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 12, 2025
Following the standoff, New Delhi expanded security vetting of business visas beyond the home and foreign ministries, leading to long delays. Industry groups have argued that the restrictions disrupted production schedules and slowed expansion plans across several sectors.
The policy shift comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China earlier this year for the first time in seven years, holding talks with President Xi Jinping on stabilising relations. Analysts say India is recalibrating its approach to Beijing amid economic pressures and global trade challenges.
According to the Observer Research Foundation, tighter visa scrutiny resulted in production losses of about $15 billion for Indian electronics manufacturers over four years. Major Chinese companies such as Xiaomi also faced difficulties securing visas for technical staff.
Read More: India fast-tracks Chinese visas to revive trade ties
Industry executives say the new measures could help revive stalled projects and address skilled labour shortages. They add that smoother access for foreign technicians is critical for maintaining manufacturing momentum and strengthening India’s industrial growth.