China Shifts Visa Processing to Diplomatic Missions in India

The Chinese Embassy in India and the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai began handling visa and consular legalization applications directly on October 26, 2026. This administrative shift eliminates the use of three separate application centers previously located in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

Under the new system, residents of Maharashtra and Karnataka must submit their documents to the consulate in Mumbai. Applicants from all other regions, including those within the Kolkata consular district, are required to submit their documents to the embassy in New Delhi. The former application centers will stop accepting new requests immediately but will continue returning processed documents until October 30.

Applicants must first obtain approval through the online portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China before submitting their passports within a 30-day window. Visa fees for Indian passport holders are set at Rs 2,900 for single-entry and Rs 4,400 for double-entry, with payments accepted only via bank-issued demand drafts.