China has significantly tightened the issuance of business visas to Indian executives, to the extent that even companies with what are described as “advanced partnerships” with Chinese firms are now facing visa denials, according to senior officials at several affected companies. As a result, many firms have been forced to shift crucial executive meetings to alternative locations such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia or Hong Kong.
The situation is a significant concern for India Inc, as the visas in question cover a wide range of professionals essential to bilateral business, including executives, engineers, technical specialists, and sales and management teams working to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries.
In one specific instance, a leading Chinese smartphone brand was forced to relocate a business meeting with trade partners from Shenzhen to Thailand, after most of the prospective Indian attendees—including some company executives—failed to secure visas for more than two months, according to a person familiar with the matter.