China to Issue Visas to Indian Students: On August 22, 2022 (Monday), China revealed plans to grant visas to hundreds of Indian students who have been stuck at home for more than two years as a result of Beijing’s COVID-19 regulations. In addition, China will grant Indians various types of travel permits, including business visas.
The announcement was made by the Twitter account of Ji Rong, who is the counsellor of the Department of Asian Affairs in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The tweet says,“Warmest congrats to #Indian #students! Your patience proves worthwhile. I can really share your excitement & happiness. Welcome back to #China!”
Warmest congrats to #Indian #students! Your patience proves worthwhile. I can really share your excitement & happiness. Welcome back to #China!🌹https://t.co/DKVdjVmQWP pic.twitter.com/ZHIQwIJaU1
— Ji Rong嵇蓉 (@JiRongMFA) August 22, 2022
Her tweet further cited a thorough press release issued by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi announcing the opening of visas for students, business people, and family members of those employed in China.
The article will further discuss important details of the announcement made by the Chinese embassy regarding the issuance of visas to the stranded Indian students.
China to Issue Visas to Indian Students – Overview
| Announcement | China plans to issue visas to Indian students who were stranded in India due to the COVID-19 lockdown. |
| Announcing Authority | Ji Rong (Counsellor of the Department of Asian Affairs) |
| Main Authority | The Government of China |
| Beneficiaries | Students, business people, and Indian employees in China. |
China to Issue Visas to Indian Students – Details
- According to the official announcement, X1-Visa will be given to students, including freshly enrolled students, students who wish to return to China to continue their studies, and students who intend to travel to China to pursue long-term studies for higher academic education.
- Both new students and returning students who were unable to travel to China owing to COVID-19 visa limitations would be given student visas.
- In order to get visas, older students will have to show a “Certificate of Returning to Campus” given by the Chinese university, while new students must present an actual admission letter from a Chinese university.
China to Issue Visas to Indian Students – Background
- Due to COVID-19 visa restrictions, over 23,000 Indian students—most of whom are studying medicine—were reportedly stranded at home.
- China requested the names of students who wanted to return right away to continue their studies, and India responded with a list of several hundred students.
- Several stranded students from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Russia, and other nations have already arrived in China on chartered aircraft in recent weeks.
Note: As per the official sources, over 1,000 former Indian students reportedly expressed a desire to return and resume their studies in China.
China to Issue Visas to Indian Students – Challenges
- The unavailability of direct flights between India and China is a challenging issue. However, for the first time in more than two years, a chartered jet taken by Indian businessmen and their families recently arrived in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
- In July, China allowed family members of Indian professionals working there to visit China. However, the challenge they faced was that a lot of them had to travel via routes in foreign countries, spending far more than the normal tickets.
- According to officials from China and India, negotiations to restart flight operations are ongoing between the two countries.
China to Issue Visas to Indian Students – Types of Visas
| Visa | Purpose |
| F-Visa | This type of visa is granted to those who plan to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours, and other non-commercial activities. |
| M-Visa | This type of visa is issued to those who intend to go to China for trade and commercial purposes. |
| Z-Visa | This type of visa is granted to those who are employed in China. |
| X1-Visa | This type of visa is issued to students. |
FAQs
Is the Chinese visa open to Indian students now?
China has recently announced it will grant visas to hundreds of Indian students who have been stuck at home for more than two years as a result of Beijing's stringent COVID-19 regulations. In addition, China will grant Indians various types of travel permits, including business visas.
What Chinese visa do I need as a student?
China offers X1 type visas for students who wish to study there.
Who is granted the Chinese type F-Visa?
This type of visa is granted to those who plan to go to China for exchanges, visits, study tours, and other non-commercial activities.
