- Simplified visa process with a new digital platform for foreign professionals
- Relaxed rules for roles in factory installation, maintenance, and production
- Stricter visa checks after 2020 caused production losses, especially in electronics and solar
In an effort to entice foreign engineers and technicians through simplified business visa procedures, India has put into effect modifications to simplify the business visa process for foreign engineers and technicians to assist local industries that are dependent on Chinese technology.
The modifications to reduce processing time and to minimise paperwork were aimed at simplifying the process for Indian businesses and providing ease of operation for Indian companies using foreign workers.
As an additional effort to encourage business expansion into India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recently created a new digital platform, which allows Indian companies to easily generate sponsor letters on the web for inviting overseas professionals to come to India to work.
The visa application form has also been streamlined and includes the elimination of needing multiple ministry recommendations as part of the application process to further reduce processing time and provide an open and transparent application process.
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The relaxed visa requirements are designed specifically for the positions of factory installations, their commissioning, maintenance and production; the positions in which manufacturers in India are accustomed to using inputs from technicians located in China.
These engineers not only have the role of operating the machines made by China, but they also play a vital role in training the locals on operating the machine.
The easing of the visa rules was implemented as a result of the effect on the delay of issuing business visas due to stricter entry regulations that were put in place after the 2020 Galwan Valley Incident and the resulting delays for the business visas for manufacturers, which led to delays in production, particularly for the electronics and solar energy industry, where companies require both skilled personnel and the equipment to manufacture their products from China.
The announcement by the Indian government to ease visa restrictions on Chinese nationals comes following Prime Minister Modi's visit to China in early September where he met with President Xi Jinping for discussions regarding improving trade between the two countries. In addition to easing the visa restrictions on Chinese nationals, the China government also announced that they will begin accepting applications for Indian citizens to obtain visas to travel to China starting December 22.