India has streamlined its business visa rules to make it easier for foreign engineers and technicians to work in the country, a move expected to benefit manufacturers that rely heavily on Chinese expertise to run and maintain factories.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said it has rolled out a new digital platform that allows companies to generate sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals. The government has also simplified visa application forms and removed the requirement for additional recommendations from multiple ministries, cutting down approval time.
The revised rules apply to visas issued for factory installation, commissioning, maintenance and production-related activities. Indian companies, particularly in electronics, solar and heavy manufacturing, depend largely on Chinese professionals for installing specialised machinery and training local staff, as much of the equipment used is imported from China.
The move signals a further easing of curbs imposed after India and China clashed along their Himalayan border in mid-2020. Following the standoff, India had virtually halted Chinese business travel and widened security checks for visas, creating bottlenecks for companies dependent on Chinese technical personnel.
India had recently begun cutting red tape to speed up visas for Chinese professionals, reflecting a cautious improvement in ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China earlier this year for the first time in seven years, holding talks with President Xi Jinping on stabilising bilateral relations.
The easing of visa restrictions also comes amid broader economic pressures. With US tariffs weighing on global trade, India has sought to recalibrate its engagement with Beijing, particularly in areas critical to domestic manufacturing.
It has been estimated that tighter visa scrutiny over the past four years resulted in production losses of about $15 billion for Indian electronics manufacturers. Several Chinese electronics firms, including smartphone makers, struggled to secure visas for key staff, delaying expansion plans. The solar sector was also hit by shortages of skilled technical labour.
Industry executives say the reforms should help unblock stalled projects and support India’s manufacturing ambitions by ensuring smoother access to specialised foreign expertise.
