image

Business Visas in India

There are a variety of visas foreign investors can apply for depending on their purpose of visit. With the introduction of e-visa, which is open to 166 countries, it has become easier for applicants to apply for an Indian visa. The applicants can apply online without the hassle of visiting an Indian embassy or consulate.

Visa requirements for foreign nationals working in India

Key visa types

There are a variety of visas foreign nationals can apply for depending on their purpose of visit, such as for business or employment:

e-Visa

The introduction of the e-Visa, open to 166 countries, has made it easier for applicants to apply for an Indian visa. Applicants must note that the government will make amendments to the visa guidelines from time to time. 

There are five sub-categories of e-Visa:

  • e-Tourist Visa: For recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short-term yoga program, etc.
  • e-Business Visa: For all activities that are permitted under normal business visa.
  • e-Medical Visa: For medical treatment, including treatment under Indian systems of medicine.
  • e-Medical Attendant Visa: As attendant to e-Medical visa holder
  • e-Conference Visa: For attending a conference/ seminar/ workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments, or Union Territory governments, etc. and their subordinate/ attached organizations and public sector undertakings.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Applicant’s passport should have at least six months validity at the time of making application for grant of e-Visa.
  • International travellers should have a return ticket or onward journey ticket with sufficient money to spend during their stay in India.
  • The e-Visa facility is not available to diplomatic/official passport holders or United Nations laissez-passer travel document holders.
  • The e-Visa facility is not available to individuals endorsed on parent/spouse’ passport, that is, each individual applying should have a separate passport.
  • The e-Visa facility is not available to international travel document holders other than passport.

Type of e-Visa

Duration

Entries

Stay

One month e-Tourist

Visa

One month (30 days).

Single Entry, non-extendable and non-convertible.

 

e-Business Visa

One year (365 days) from the date of grant of ETA.

Multiple

Continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days. If the intension is to stay for more then 180 days, then one should apply for work visa and get registered with FRRO/FRO concerned within two weeks of arrival.

e-Conference Visa

Thirty days (30 days) from the date of arrival into India.

Multiple

 

e-Medical Visa

Sixty days (60 days) from the date of arrival into India.

Triple

 

e-Medical Attendant

Visa

Business Visa

Foreign nationals looking to engage in business activities during their stay in India should apply for an e-business visa.

Business visas can be granted to foreign investors for five years, which can also be extended if they have any of the following purposes for their India visit:

  • To establish an industrial or business venture, or to explore possibilities to set up an industrial or business venture in India;
  • To purchase or sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables;
  • For technical meetings and discussions, attending board meeting or general meetings for providing business services support;
  • For recruitment of manpower;
  • Functioning as partners and/or directors of the company;
  • On visit of short duration for monitoring and conducting meetings for ongoing projects; and
  • For pre-sales or post sales activity not amounting to actual execution of any contract or project.

The extension is subject to the condition that the gross sales or turnover from the business, for which the foreign national has been granted visa is not less than INR 10 million (US$119,433) per annum – to be achieved within two years of setting up the business or date of initial grant of the business, whichever is earlier.

Documents required for business visa processing

  • Valid passport with two blank pages and six months validity and relevant travel document;
  • Passport size photographs;
  • Copy of online filled form Introduction/support letter issued by the foreign entity;
  • Invitation/support letter issued by the Indian entity;
  • Proof of financial standing and expertise in field of intended business; and
  • Certificate of incorporation of Indian entity.

Dependents of B Visa

Family members/dependents of a foreigner who is granted the B Visa shall be granted dependent visa of appropriate sub-category. Its validity shall be co-terminus with the validity of the visa of the principal visa holder or for such shorter period as may be considered necessary by the Indian Mission. Such family members may also be granted Student/ Research Visa, etc. provided they are otherwise eligible for grant of such a visa.

India Business Card for business persons from SAARC countries

An India Business Card will be issued to businesspersons from SAARC countries who are eligible for a multiple entry B Visa for a period of three years or more. The validity of the India Business Card will be co-terminus with the validity of the B Visa.

Permanent Residency Status (PRS) for foreign investors

Permanent Residency Status (PRS) may be granted to foreign investors making investment via the foreign direct investment (FDI) route.

WATCH

Expatriates in India: Key Considerations and Opportunities

This scheme is not available to Pakistani citizens or third-country nationals of Pakistani origin. To be eligible, the foreign investor should invest a minimum of INR 10 crore within 18 months or INR 250 million to be brought within 36 months. The foreign investment should result in generating employment to at least 20 resident Indians every financial year. This scheme is applicable only to foreign investors fulfilling these mentioned eligibility conditions, their spouse, and dependents.

Top management executives will not be covered by this scheme as they are entitled only to a normal Employment Visa.

Employment Visa

Skilled and qualified foreign nationals who are interested to work for a company in India should apply for an employment visa, if it matches any of the purposes or job description below:

  • Involved in execution of projects or contracts;
  • Foreign nationals coming to India as consultants on fixed remuneration;
  • Provision of technical support services or transfer of know-how for which an Indian Company pays fees or royalties;
  • Foreign engineers and technicians coming to India for installation and commissioning of equipment, machines, or tools as part of a contract for supply of such equipment, machines, and tools; and
  • Foreign artists or coaches employed with national or state level teams, including foreign sportsmen and foreign specialist chefs.
  • Further, the foreign national should also meet the following eligibility criteria for an employment visa in India: The applicant seeks to visit India for employment in an entity registered in India, or for employment in a foreign company engaged in a project in the country;
  • The applicant is a highly skilled and qualified professional, who is being hired by a company on a contract or employment basis;
  • The applicant is filling a role that the employer was unable to staff with a qualified Indian employee;
  • The applicant will not be working in a routine, secretarial, or clerical job; and
  • With the exception of language teachers, ethnic cooks employed by foreign missions, staff working for an embassy or the Indian High Commission, voluntary workers, and certain stipulated professionals, the foreign national must draw an annual gross salary in excess of INR 1.625 million.

Documents required for employment visa processing

  • Letter of invitation from the host Indian company;
  • Covering letter from the foreign company;
  • Contract of employment and statement of income;
  • Certificate of incorporation from the host Indian company;
  • Certificates of the applicant’s educational qualifications and professional expertise; and
  • A valid passport that has two blank pages and a validity of six months.

Documents required by the applicant

  • A completed visa application form;
  • A valid passport;
  • A passport sized photo;
  • Proof of address, such as a driver’s license or utility bill; and
  • A detailed resume or curriculum vitae.

Documents required by the applicant’s employer

Employers ordinarily need to provide the following documents to support visa applications:

  • A permission letter that requests approval for the applicant’s visa;
  • A sponsorship letter that pledges responsibility for the applicant’s activity in India and promises to repatriate the applicant at company cost if any adverse conduct comes to notice;
  • A tax liability letter pledging responsibility for the applicant’s income tax in India;
  • A justification letter that confirms that the employer was unable to find a qualified Indian candidate for the job and details the applicant’s unique specialization and professional capabilities;
  • An appointment letter detailing the job role and salary;
  • A comprehensive employment contract;
  • Copy of the company’s PAN card; and
  • Company’s Incorporation Certificate.

Employment visa can be extended up to five years, on an year to year basis, if the following conditions are met:

  • Applicant’s conduct during stay;
  • Submission of all necessary documents that justify continuation of employment;
  • Proper filing of income tax returns; and
  • No adverse security inputs.

Duration of Employment Visa / registration requirements / extension of Employment Visa (Other than Japanese nationals)

Category duration of Employment Visa

Category duration of Employment Visa

A foreign technician/expert coming to India in pursuance of a bilateral agreement between the Government of India and the foreign government, or in pursuance of a collaboration agreement that has been approved by the Government of India.

Duration of the agreement or for a period of five years, whichever is less, with multiple entry facilities.

Highly skilled foreign personnel being employed in the IT software and IT-enabled sectors.

Up to three years or term of assignment, whichever is less, with multiple entry facilities.

Foreigner coming for employment not covered in above categories.

Duration of Employment visa is generally up to one year only. Further extension up to 5 years from the date of issue of visa on year to year basis can be obtained from MHA/ FRRO in the concerned state in India as the case may be.

Registration requirements for E Visa:

If the Employment Visa is valid for a period of more than 180 days, the foreign national concerned should register with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival. In the case of Employment Visa issued for a period of 180 days or less, registration is not required with FRRO/FRO.

Extension of E Visa:

The Employment Visa may be extended by the FRRO/FRO concerned beyond the initial visa validity period, up to a total period of five years from the date of issue of the initial Employment Visa, on a year-to-year basis.

Specific provisions relating to the grant of Employment Visa to Japanese nationals

No.

Category

Duration of Employment Visa

(i)

Japanese technicians or experts coming to India in pursuance of bilateral arrangements between the Government of India and the Government of Japan or in pursuance of arrangements between non-governmental organizations that have been approved by the Government of India.

Duration stated in the arrangement or for a period of five years,

whichever is less, with multiple entry facilities.

(ii)

Japanese applicants who are not covered under (i)

above but are highly skilled and qualified professionals

employed by a company, organization, or industry in the

IT software and IT-enabled sectors in India.

Three years with multiple entry facility.

(iii)

Japanese applicants who are highly skilled and qualified professionals coming to India for employment by a company, organization, or industry in India or engaged in an undertaking in India on contract not covered in (i) and (ii) above.

Three years with multiple entry facility.

Project Visa

Project visa is only issued to highly skilled foreign nationals who are visiting India for execution of projects in the power or steel sectors.

Important Tip
The project visa is also a multiple entry visa which is granted for a year or for the duration of the project – whichever is less. It can be extended by another year.

State government or the union territory administration can grant the first extension of a project visa on the expiry of the initial visa term. Any subsequent extension will be granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

An individual possessing Project Visa will not be allowed to take up employment in the same Indian company for a period of two years from the date of commissioning of the project. The foreigner coming on Project Visa will have to register themself with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival if the validity of visa is for more than 180 days. If the validity of visa is for a period of 180 days or less, registration would not be required. There are sector-specific ceilings on the maximum number of Project Visas allowed for each project in the power and steel sectors, respectively.

CHANGE SECTION

Events in India

How can we help?

Hi there!

Let me show you how I can be of assistance.

I can help you find and connect with an advisor, get guidance, search resources, or share feedback about this site.

Please select what you’d like to do:

Typing...
How can we help?

Hi there!

Our contact personel in Italy is:

profile Alberto Vettoretti

Please select what you’d like to do:

Typing...
Let us help you advance in Asia

Typing...
Speak to an expert!

Please share a few details about what guidance you seek. We can have a suitable advisor contact you within one business day.

Security Check
Back to top