In a significant development aimed at strengthening diplomatic and people-to-people ties, BLS International Services Ltd has secured a three-year contract from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to establish and operate Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in China. The contract, which became effective on October 14, 2025, authorizes BLS to manage visa services in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, three major Chinese cities. This move follows India’s recent decision to resume tourist visa issuance to Chinese nationals after a prolonged suspension.
Details of the Agreement
Scope and Duration
The agreement, valid for three years, tasks BLS International with building and managing IVACs that provide seamless, technology-driven visa application services. The centres will be equipped with,
- Enhanced infrastructure
- Advanced technology systems
- Multi-lingual staff to cater to local applicants
- These facilities are designed to deliver a user-friendly and efficient experience to visa seekers, aligning with global service standards.
Strategic Locations
The Indian Visa Application Centres will be set up in,
- Beijing (China’s capital and political hub)
- Shanghai (economic and financial centre)
- Guangzhou (major trade gateway in southern China)
These cities are pivotal for both business and tourism exchanges between India and China.
Background: Resumption of Tourist Visas
- India had suspended the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals in 2020, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- However, the restrictions remained even after pandemic concerns eased, largely due to strained bilateral relations following the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh in 2020.
- In July 2025, India announced the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals, marking a thaw in relations and a willingness to restart cultural, academic, and commercial exchanges.
Significance of the Move
For India-China Relations
- This initiative is a diplomatic signal that India is looking to stabilize and rebuild channels of engagement with China, even amid ongoing boundary concerns.
- Visa access is a critical tool in diplomacy, allowing greater interaction through tourism, business, education, and familial ties.
For BLS International
- Winning this contract marks a major milestone for BLS International, a global provider of visa outsourcing and tech-enabled citizen services. The firm already handles similar services for several governments across multiple countries.
- According to Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director of BLS International, this project will play a “vital role in facilitating reliable and user-centric visa services,” helping streamline the visa process for Chinese nationals.
Key takeaways
- BLS International awarded a 3-year MEA contract, effective October 14, 2025
- Visa centres to be set up in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
- India resumed tourist visa issuance for Chinese nationals in July 2025
- Visa ban was in place since 2020, post-COVID and Galwan Valley clashes
- Centres will use advanced technology and multilingual staff for efficient processing