Work and Business Visa in India

• establishing an industrial/business venture
• exploring possibilities to set up industrial/business venture in India,
• purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables,
• technical meetings/discussions,
• attending Board meetings or general meetings,
• providing business services support,
• recruitment of manpower,
• for performing duties as partners in a business and/or functioning as Directors of the company, consultations regarding exhibitions or for participation in exhibitions,
• trade fairs, business fairs, etc.

Employment Visa

• Ethnic cooks,
• Language teachers (other than English language teachers) / translators and
• Staff working for the concerned Embassy/High Commission in India.

Residential permit

The following documents are required to be submitted along with the application:

• Application form in quadruplicate (Form A)
• Passport and visa in original
• 4 passport-size photographs
• Proof of residence in India
• Copy of employment contract and undertakings by the employer
• Once the FRRO is satisfied with the above documents, a “ Residential permit” to stay in India is issued to the foreign national.

There are two types of work-related visas for non-Indians who wish to come to India for work-related purposes: a Business Visa and an Employment Visa.

Business Visa

Business Visa is not applicable for people who are coming to India for part-time or full-time employment. The duration of a business visa is only 6 months. The following activities can be carried out under a business visa:

• establishing an industrial/business venture
• exploring possibilities to set up industrial/business venture in India,
• purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables,
• technical meetings/discussions,
• attending Board meetings or general meetings,
• providing business services support,
• recruitment of manpower,
• for performing duties as partners in a business and/or functioning as Directors of the company, consultations regarding exhibitions or for participation in exhibitions,
• trade fairs, business fairs, etc.

Employment Visa

Those who want to take up employment or consultancy in India for a substantial duration are required to take employment provided that they are being sponsored for an Employment Visa by their employer and they draw a salary in excess of US$ 25,000 per annum. The condition of the annual floor limit on income will not apply to:

• Ethnic cooks,
• Language teachers (other than English language teachers) / translators and
• Staff working for the concerned Embassy/High Commission in India.

Residential permit

Foreign nationals including their family members who intend to stay in India for more than 180 days or have a visa for more than 180 days, have to get themselves registered with the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 2 weeks of their first arrival in India. They are required to make an application in the prescribed form and be present in person at the time of registration. The following documents are required to be submitted along with the application:

• Application form in quadruplicate (Form A)
• Passport and visa in original
• 4 passport-size photographs
• Proof of residence in India
• Copy of employment contract and undertakings by the employer
• Once the FRRO is satisfied with the above documents, a “ Residential permit” to stay in India is issued to the foreign national.

Advocate Chikirsha Mohanty

4.0 | 2+ user ratings Greater Kailash - 1, Delhi
5 years

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