Business eVisa
Business eVisa to India is an official document that allows you to enter and travel in India for business purposes. Unlike a paper visa that is affixed to your passport, this document is instead attached to it electronically.
After filling out the visa application form, passport holders receive an electronic visa by e-mail. They should print it and present it to the local authorities upon arrival in India. Note that a business visa to India is not a work visa and cannot be used to seek employment in the country. It allows its owner to participate in business activities during his stay in the country.
If you need a work visa, contact the nearest Indian consulate or embassy to apply.
Business travelers from more than 160 countries can apply for a business visa to India for:
Attending business meetings and events.
Meetings with (potential) suppliers, customers and other business partners.
Delivery, installation or maintenance of products.
Providing advice, implementing or providing other business services.
Recruitment of personnel.
The Indian Business Visa is valid for entry through
28 designated airports:
- Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra , Bengaluru , Bhubaneswar , Calicut , Chennai, Chandigarh , Cochin , Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya , Goa, Guwahati , Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow , Madurai, Mangalore , Mumbai, Nagrurali , Port Port, Trivandrum , Varanasi and Visakhapatnam).
5 designated seaports:
- Cochin , Goa, New Mangalore , Mumbai, Chennai). However, travelers can exit through any of the authorized Immigration Checkpoints (ICPs) in India.
An Indian business visa is a multiple entry visa that is valid for 1 year after it is issued. You can use it to stay in India for a maximum of 180 days in total. This can be one long trip, two long 90-day trips, or an unlimited number of short trips depending on the visa obtained.
You must carry a hard copy of your e-business visa with you when you travel.
This Indian business visa is non-extendable. If you wish to extend your stay in the country, you will need to contact the local immigration authorities to complete the necessary documents to be able to stay in the country. Keep in mind that they will need reasons for your stay and financial proof that you can afford to stay in India longer.
To apply for an Indian business visa, you will need the following documents and information:
- Colored photo of passport size
- A valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 months after the intended date of arrival in India. The passport must have at least 2 blank pages for stamping.
- A PDF copy of your business card. It should contain information about your company, especially the corporate phone number, as the embassy will contact you through it.
- A detailed letter of invitation from the host company/firm incorporated in or from India stating the purpose of the trip. The email should include their contact information and logo.
- You will also need to provide an email address
Upon arrival, an Indian government official may ask you to present a certificate of good health and proof of sufficient financial means to support your stay in India.
Passport holders from more than 160 countries can apply for a business visa to India online. The application process is completely electronic, meaning visitors are not required to visit the embassy or consulate in person.
Business travelers can apply as early as 120 days before departure and must complete the request at least 4 business days in advance.
In addition to meeting the general Indian eVisa requirements, business travelers must also provide a business letter or business card and answer some questions about the sending and receiving organizations.
Work visa
Requirements for obtaining a visa to India
In order to obtain a work visa to India, a person must meet one of several requirements. Eligible persons include, in particular, those who:
- Work for an Indian company or a company with multinational operations, including a branch in India
- Work in a foreign company in India as a specialist on a specific project
- Work in a non-governmental organization
- Are at a managing position in an international company.
Application process
The documents may vary depending on their country of origin as well as the nature of the work they will be doing for your company in India. The following documents are usually required:
- Passport valid for at least one year and containing three blank pages
- Two passport-sized photo IDs
- A copy of the first pages of the passport
- Employment contract written in English and containing the term and conditions of the contract
- A copy of the company registration certificate
- Visa application form
- Application form for additional work visa found and downloaded on the India website Visa Online
- Information on tax obligations
- Summary written in English
- Copies of diplomas and any supporting documents related to professional competences, such as resumes or letters of recommendation.
- To obtain an Indian work visa, an employee must complete and submit an online visa application. It is also necessary to print a physical copy of the filled application form and bring it to the nearest Indian Embassy along with the necessary identification documents. After the application is approved, the visa can be obtained from the embassy or sent to the applicant by mail.
- Processing of the application takes at least three working days from the moment of receipt of the visa, but employees are always advised to obtain visas in advance. Indian work visas are usually valid for one year, but can be valid for up to five years and are also eligible for extension. Visas can be extended by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the worker's state of residence in India.
- Foreigners applying for a work visa whose term of stay exceeds 180 days must register. Similarly, if you are entering India on a business visa and your total stay in a calendar year exceeds 180 days, you will also need to register.
- This registration process should be done within 14 days of your arrival in India. Although there is no registration fee for the first 14 days, there is a penalty as a late registration fee. In addition, there is a fine for late payment and non-registration.
If you entered on a work visa, you need to provide:
- Four photos
- Visa and passport with confirmation of immigration stamp
- Proof of residence in India
- An employment contract with an indication of the duration and amount of remuneration
- A request letter from your company for registration
- A letter of undertaking from your company to be signed by an authorized Indian signatory with his name and contact details
The cost of an Indian work visa is not fixed. Depending on your country and its currency, the cost of applying for a business visa can range from 120 to 230 dollars. A short-term single/multiple-entry business visa is usually much cheaper than a five-year multiple-entry visa.
Similarly, a work visa can range from 120 to 560 dollars depending on your country and length of stay. For more information, individuals will have to contact the Indian High Commission of the respective countries and confirm with them the exact cost of their respective applications.
India does not issue employment visas to clerical/secretary, entry-level or mid-level positions.