The Embassy of India in Beijing has issued a detailed advisory outlining the revised procedure and eligibility criteria for Chinese nationals applying for the Production Investment Business e-Visa (e-B-4) to travel to India for specified business and industrial activities.
According to the advisory, Chinese nationals intending to visit India for activities linked to production, manufacturing, and industrial operations are required to apply online for the e-B-4 visa. Eligible activities include installation and commissioning of equipment, quality checks and essential maintenance, production-related work, IT and ERP ramp-up, training, supply chain development for vendor empanelment, plant design and commissioning, as well as visits by senior management and executives.
The advisory further clarified that Indian companies wishing to invite Chinese nationals under the e-B-4 category must first register on the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) National Single Window System (NSWS) portal. Registration is mandatory and must be completed through the ‘Business User Login’ section of the NSWS platform. Only after successful registration will the Indian company be able to generate a sponsorship letter with a unique sponsorship number, which is compulsory for the grant of the e-B-4 visa.
Applicants are required to submit their e-B-4 visa applications online through the Indian visa portal operated by the Bureau of Immigration. The application must be supported by a set of mandatory documents, including a copy of the passport page containing personal details, the sponsorship letter issued by the inviting Indian company, a dispatch letter from the applicant’s current employer, proforma details of the employer, the applicant’s Hukou document, and a detailed resume. The Embassy has specified that only certified copies of documents uploaded in the English language will be accepted.
Upon arrival in India, all e-B-4 visa holders must complete electronic registration with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival, irrespective of the duration of their visa.
The Embassy has discontinued the issuance of paper visas for the categories covered under the Production Investment Business e-Visa (e-B-4). All applications for Production Investment Business travel to India are now required to be processed exclusively through the electronic visa system, in line with India’s transition to a fully digital visa framework.
 to make business travel easier for Chinese nationals, effective January 1, 2026. The online visa, valid for up to six months, can be used for specific activities such as installation, commissioning, training and supply chain work. Applicants can apply online without visiting embassies, with processing expected in about 45–50 days.){kind=link}