The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade announced late on Wednesday that it had introduced a new digital platform last month, allowing companies to create sponsorship letters for inviting foreign talent, streamlining visa applications, and eliminating the need for additional recommendations from relevant ministries.
The visa modifications apply to tasks like factory installation, commissioning, maintenance, and production, among others. Indian industries largely rely on Chinese experts for these services and for training local personnel, particularly in facilities utilizing Chinese machinery.
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Reuters reported last week that India has reduced bureaucratic hurdles to expedite visas for Chinese professionals, indicating a potential thaw in relations between the two countries.
Following clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbors on their Himalayan border in mid-2020, India had nearly halted all Chinese visits, intensifying the scrutiny of business visas across various ministries.
This reduction in restrictions follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China this year, his first in seven years, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss enhancing bilateral ties.
Amid challenging US tariffs, Modi has tentatively rekindled relations with Beijing.
The Observer Research Foundation estimates that stricter visa scrutiny resulted in production losses approaching $15 billion over four years for Indian electronics manufacturers, who rely on vital machinery imports from China.
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On December 17, the Government of India announced it had streamlined the process for domestic companies to apply for e-visas for foreign professionals, such as engineers and technical specialists needed for machine installation, quality assessments, training, and plant layout.
This initiative aims to assist firms that import machinery from countries like China. Previously, some Indian companies expressed concerns over visa acquisition challenges for Chinese experts crucial to their operations.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) indicated that it has implemented an online module allowing Indian companies to generate sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals to engage in production-related tasks under the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa).
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Launched on November 29, 2025, this digital platform is part of a broader set of reforms aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in India.
