On Wednesday, India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade revealed that it had introduced a new digital platform last month, enabling companies to generate sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals. The initiative simplifies visa forms and removes the need for additional recommendations from relevant ministries.
The visa regulations have been relaxed for various activities, including factory installation, commissioning, maintenance, and production. Indian enterprises primarily depend on Chinese professionals for these services and for training local staff, especially 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 signs of improved relations between the two nations.
Previously, India had nearly halted all Chinese visits after a clash on their Himalayan border in mid-2020, intensifying its scrutiny of business visas beyond just the home and foreign ministries.
The easing of restrictions follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China this year—the first in seven years—where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss improving bilateral ties.
Amidst stringent US tariffs, Modi has carefully revived connections with Beijing.
According to think tank Observer Research Foundation, the increased scrutiny on visas has led to an estimated $15 billion in production losses for Indian electronics manufacturers, who rely on crucial machinery imports from China.
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On December 17, the Government of India announced the simplification of the e-visa application process for domestic companies seeking foreign professionals, such as engineers and technical experts, for tasks like machine installation, quality checks, training, and plant design.
This initiative aims to assist businesses that import machinery from countries like China. Previously, some Indian companies expressed concerns regarding challenges in obtaining visas for Chinese professionals critical to their operations.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has introduced an online module for Indian companies to create sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals for production-related tasks under the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa).
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The digital module was launched on November 29, 2025, as part of a series of reforms aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in India.
