India Suspends Tourist Visas for Chinese Nationals as China Refuses Entry of Indian Students

The departure hall at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi, India, on Nov. 5, 2014. (Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images)

India has reportedly suspended tourist visas for Chinese nationals in what is seen as a retaliatory move against Beijing’s refusal to allow the return of thousands of Indian students, who have had to remain in India since 2020.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in an update issued on April 20 that “tourist visas issued to nationals of China are no longer valid,” local news outlet The Times of India reported.

However, India is still offering business, employment, diplomatic, and official visas to Chinese nationals, according to the outlet.

According to the IATA, India only allows the entry of nationals of Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal; Indian residence permit holders, Indian visa or e-visa holders, overseas citizens of India cardholders, persons of Indian origin cardholders, and diplomatic passport holders.

The move comes after Beijing refused to allow the entry of more than 22,000 Indian students who have been unable to return for studies in China since the COVID-19 outbreak began in 2020.

While China has refused to allow the return of Indian students because of the pandemic, it has permitted two groups of Sri Lankan students to return for studies.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has informed that the Chinese Embassy in Colombo has finalized two groups of students to return to China. Additional students are being processed to return to China,” the Sri Lankan Embassy said on April 20, according to the Hindustan Times.

The Sri Lankan Embassy didn’t specify how many students will be permitted to return to China, but stated that it would continue efforts to enable all students to resume their studies in China.

India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said last month that the Chinese Foreign Ministry was exploring ways to allow international students to return to China. But he noted that China “has not given any categorical response” about the return of Indian students.

In March, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that he had discussed with his Chinese counterpart the issue of the return of Indian students and urged Beijing to adopt a “congenial stance” in facilitating their return to China, according to local reports.

“I took up strongly the predicament of Indian students studying in China who have not been allowed to return, citing COVID-19 restrictions. We hope that China will take a non-discriminatory approach since it involves the future of so many young people,” he said.

Jaishankar said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi acknowledged India’s concerns about the situation and promised to discuss the matter with the relevant authorities. But Beijing provided no details about the timeline for the return of Indian students to China.