The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has notified its airlines members that India has suspended a tourist visa for Chinese citizens. The trade association has almost 290 member airlines. Chinese tourist Visa with 10 years of validity also no longer valid. India took steps as an act of revenge against China because it denied the entry of around 22,000 Indian students who had to return to India when Covid-19 hit the world in 2020. Now, they cannot return to China to continue their physical classes.
Who is not allowed to enter India from China?
According to April 2022 circular, IATA has stated the following:
- Tourism Visa issued for Nationals of China or the People’s Republic will be invalid
- Tourism Visa with 10 years of validity will be invalid
Who are allowed to enter India from China?
Nationals of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives
- Tourists hold a residence permit from India
- Tourists with OCI cards or Booket
- Those who have an Indian PIO card
- Those who have diplomatic passports
- Tourists with e-visas or visas released by India.
There has been no response from China about the return of Indian students
According to the report, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has stated that the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson had said on February 8 that China was investigating this problem collaboratively and that plans to allow international students to return to China were reviewed. He added that the Chinese, however, had not given a response to this problem. Students also run social media campaigns that voicing out their demands to allow them to return to China.
