Business Visa
Q .No.1: What is a Business Visa?
Business Visa is granted to a foreign national who wants to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture, or wants to purchase/sell industrial products in India. This Visa is granted subject to following conditions:-
(i) The applicant is a person of assured financial standing and expertise in the field of the intended business.
(ii) The applicant is not visiting India for the business of money lending or petty trading, or for a full time employment in India involving payment of salary in India etc.
(iii)The facility of Business Visa will also be extended to senior executives of firms, experts, tour conductors and travel agents, etc., visiting India in connection with work related to projects of national importance, including those undertaken by public sector undertakings, and conducting business tours of foreigners or business relating to it, etc.
(iv) A foreign national will have to comply with all other requirements like payment of tax liabilities etc.
(v)The grant of Business Visa is subject to any instructions issued by the Government of India on the basis of reciprocity with other foreign countries from time to time.
(v) The Business Visa must be issued from the country of origin, or from the country of domicile of the foreigner provided the period of permanent residence of that applicant in that particular country is for more than 2 years.
Q .No.2: Who are eligible for a Business Visa?
(i)Foreign nationals who want to visit India to establish industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture in India
(ii)Foreign nationals coming to India to purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables.
(iii)Foreign nationals coming to India for technical meetings/discussions, attending Board meetings, general meetings for providing business services support.
(iv)Foreign nationals coming to India for recruitment of manpower.
(v)Foreign nationals who are partners in the Business and/or functioning as Directors in the company.
(vi)Foreign nationals coming to India for consultations regarding exhibitions, for participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, business fairs, etc.
(vii)Foreign buyers who come to transact business with suppliers/ potential suppliers at locations in India, to evaluate or monitor quality, give specifications, place orders, negotiate further supplies etc., relating to goods or services procured from India.
(viii)Foreign experts/specialists on a visit of short duration in connection with an ongoing project with the objective of monitoring the progress of the work, conducting meetings with Indian customers and/or to provide some high level technical guidance.
(ix)Foreign nationals coming to India for pre-sales or post-sales activity not amounting to actual execution of any contract or project.
(x)Foreign Trainees of multinational companies/corporate houses coming for in-house training in the regional hubs of the concerned company located in India.
(xi)Foreign students sponsored by AIESEC for internship on project based work in companies/industries
(xii) Foreign experts coming to India for imparting training for the personnel of the Indian company.
Q .No.3: What is the duration of a Business Visa?
Business Visa with multiple entry facilities is granted for a maximu period up to 5 years. A stay stipulation may be prescribed for each visit by the concerned Indian Mission.
Q .No.4 : Can foreign nationals coming to execute projects in India be granted Business Visas?
No. A foreign national coming for executing projects/contracts will have to come only on an Employment Visa.
Q.No.5: Can foreign nationals already in India for executing projects on Business Visas extend their Business Visas?
No.
Q.No.6: Can foreign nationals already in India for executing projects on Business Visas be allowed to convert their Business Visas to Employment Visas without leaving the country?
No
Q .No.7: Which category of Visa will be granted to family members of foreign nationals coming to India on Business Visas?
Indian Missions may grant an ‘X’ Visa [i.e. a Dependent Visa] to the family members of a foreign national granted a Business Visa at their discretion, subject to usual security checks provided the family members are otherwise eligible for grant of such a Visa.
Employment Visa
Q .No.8: What is an Employment Visa?
An Employment Visa (Specified 'E') may be granted to a foreigner subject to the fulfilment of the following conditions:-
(i) The applicant is a highly skilled/skilled and qualified professional or person who is being engaged or appointed by a company, organization, industry, or undertaking, etc. in India on contract or employment basis at a senior level, skilled position such as technical expert, senior executive, or in a managerial position, etc.
(ii) Employment Visa should not be granted for jobs for which large number of qualified Indians are available. Furthermore, Employment Visa should not be granted for routine, ordinary or secretarial/clerical jobs.
(iii) The salary of the foreign national employed should not be less than Rs.16.25 lakhs per annum.
(iv) The foreign national should be coming for employment in companies registered in India.
(v) In respect of foreign nationals engaged as teaching faculty at the level of assistant professor and above by the Central Higher Education Institutes the minimum salary limit for grant of employment visa is Rs.9.10 lakhs per annum
(vi) The foreign national should not be a persona-non-gratia to the Government of India.
(vii) The foreign national should not be on any warning circular or other restrictive list.
(viii) The foreign national will have to comply with all other requirements like payment of tax liabilities etc.
(ix) The foreign national must submit proof of his/her employment or contract or engagement by the company/organization, etc. in India.
(xi) The foreign national must submit documentary proof of his educational qualifications and professional expertise.
(xi) Foreign teaching faculty employed in South Asian University and Nalanda University will be exempted from minimum salary limit for the grant of employment visa.
Q .No.9 : Who are eligible for Employment Visa?
Following categories of foreign nationals may be granted Employment visa subject to the fulfillment of the conditions mentioned above:-
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Foreign nationals coming to India as consultant on contract for whom the Indian company pays a fixed remuneration, (may not be in the form of monthly salary).
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Foreign artists engaged to conduct regular performances for the duration of the employment contract given by Hotels, Clubs, other organizations.
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Foreign nationals who are coming to India to take up employment as coaches.
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Foreign sportsmen who are given contract for a specified period by the Indian Clubs/organizations.
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Self-employed foreign nationals coming to India for providing engineering, medical, accounting, legal or such other highly skilled services in their capacity as independent consultants.
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Foreign language teachers/ interpreters.
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Foreign specialist Chefs.
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Foreign engineers/technicians coming to India for installation and commissioning of equipments/ machines/ tools in terms of the contract for supply of such equipment/ machine/tools.
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Foreign personnel deputed for providing technical support/services, transfer of know-how, services supplies for which the Indian company pays fees/royalty to the foreign company.
Q .No.10: What is the duration of an Employment Visa?
An Employment Visa will be valid for entry and stay into India within the period of its validity unless specified otherwise and subject to conditions specified. Validity of an Employment visa will be as specified below:
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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, may be granted an Employment visa for the duration of the agreement, or for a period of five years, whichever is less with multiple entry facilities.
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A foreigner coming to India for employment not covered in (1) above (and also other than those being employed in IT software and IT enabled sectors) may be granted Employment visa with a validity up to two years or the term of assignment, whichever is less with multiple entry facility.
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In the case of highly skilled/skilled foreign personnel being employed in the IT software and IT enabled sectors, the Missions/Posts may grant visa with validity up to 3 years or the term of assignment, whichever is less with multiple entry facility.
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In case of Employment Visa issued for a period of 180 days or less, registration is not required with FRRO/FRO. The Missions/Posts issue multiple entry Employment Visas for a period of 180 days or less.
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However, if the Employment visa is valid for a period of more than 180 days, it should carry an endorsement to the effect that the E-visa holder must register with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival.
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FRRO/FRO concerned may issue Residential Permit on registration for the validity of the visa period. However, if there is any change in the residential address, the foreign national concerned should immediately report the change of address to the FRRO/FRO concerned. (It may be mentioned that at present the Residential Permit is granted by the FRRO/FRO concerned for a period of one year only and the foreign national has to get this extended every year from the FRRO/FRO concerned).
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The Employment visa can be extended by the State Governments/UT Administrations/FRROs/FROs beyond the initial visa validity period up to a total period of 5 years from the date of issue of the initial Employment Visa on year to year basis subject to good conduct, production of necessary documents in support of continued employment, filing of Income Tax returns and no adverse security inputs about the foreigner. The period of extension shall not go beyond five years from the date of issue of the initial Employment visa.
Q .No.11: Whether a foreign company/organization that does not have any Project Office/subsidiary/joint venture/branch office in India can sponsor a foreign national/employee of a foreign company for Employment Visa?
Ans. No.
Q .No.12: Whether an Indian company/organization which has awarded a contract for execution of a project to a foreign company that does not have any base in India, can sponsor employee of foreign company for Employment Visa?
Ans. Yes.
Q .No.13: If the Indian organization/entity sponsors an Employment Visa, does this mean that the Indian organization/entity has to necessarily be the legal employer of the person?
Ans. No.
Q .No.14: Which category of Visa will be granted to the foreign language teachers/interpreters?
Ans. Employment Visa
Q .No.15: Which category of Visa will be granted to the foreign specialist Chefs?
Ans. Employment Visa.
Q .No.16: Which type of Visa would be granted to senior management personnel and/or specialists employed by foreign firms who are relocated to India to work on specific project/management assignment?
Ans. Employment visa
Q .No.17: Visa to family members of a foreigner granted Employment visa.
Family members/dependants of a foreigner who is granted `E' visa shall be granted `X' visa subject to usual security checks provided the family members are otherwise eligible for grant of such a Visa. 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.
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