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Learn more about India Visa Services

Depending on the reason of their stay, each foreigner can apply for several forms of Indian visa services. Depending on the visa chosen, the applicant will have many options while applying for an Indian visa. Depending on the kinds of Indian visa services desired, applying for an Indian visa might be complicated. The immigration lawyers  and visa agents at Themis Partner can help you pick the most convenient and appropriate visa for your needs, as well as aid you with documents preparation and direct application support.

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What are the different types of Visas in India

Here are the main visa that exist in India

1. India Business Visa

This visa is meant for visitors to India for business purposes. Business visas are valid for a year and allow holders to enter the country numerous times for a total of 180 days. If the intention is to stay for more than 180 days, the applicant must register with the FRRO/FRO concerned within two weeks after the expiration of the 180-day period.

This visa can be used to recruit workers, establish a firm, or engage in any other business-related activity. In addition to their passport, candidates must provide an invitation letter from an Indian firm or a photo of their business card.

Foreign citizens who wish to visit India in order to launch an industrial/business enterprise or to investigate the possibility of establishing an industrial/business venture in India. Foreign nationals visiting India:

➤ To buy or sell industrial, commercial, or consumer durables.
➤ For technical meetings/discussions, Board meetings, and general gatherings in order to provide business services assistance.
➤ To recruit workers.
➤ Who are business partners and/or serve as company directors.
➤ For exhibition consultations, exhibition participation, trade fairs, business fairs, and so on.
➤ To conduct business with suppliers/potential suppliers, evaluate or monitor quality, provide specifications, place orders, negotiate additional supplies, and so on, in relation to goods or services purchased from India.
➤ Who are experts/specialists on a short-term visit in connection with an ongoing project with the goal of monitoring work progress, meeting with Indian customers, and/or providing high-level technical guidance.
➤ For pre-sales or post-sales activities that does not amount to real contract or project execution.

Employment visas are issued to foreigners who are highly talented and/or trained professionals. Positions for which suitable Indians are available, as well as normal, ordinary, or secretarial/clerical jobs, will not be given employment visas. A Pakistani citizen cannot get an employment visa.

The foreign citizen being sponsored for a work visa in any field must have a gross annual income of more than Rs. 16.25 lakhs. This restriction of an annual income floor limit, however, shall not apply to:

➤ Ethnic chefs hired by foreign missions in India,
➤ Language teachers (other than English language teachers) / translators (this does not include teachers employed to teach specific subjects in a foreign language),
➤ Employees of the relevant embassy/high commission in India,
➤ Foreigners eligible for 'E' visa for unpaid honorary work with NGOs registered in the country,
➤ Foreign teaching faculty employed at South Asian University and Nalanda University, circus artists.

2. India Student Visa

A Student visa is given to a foreign person whose sole purpose is to follow on-campus, full time courses at academic institutions duly recognised by statutory regulatory body and have acquired\statutory authorization to conduct the courses complying with GST regulations. A foreigner must produce an approval letter or a “No Objection Certificate” from the Ministry of Health in order to be admitted to a medical or para-medical programme.

The expatriate must be in good financial standing (for this reason, a letter of support from a parent or legal guardian backed up by a bank guarantee/certificate may be appropriate).

Foreigners must also provide proof of transfer of sufficient monies for at least four months’ subsistence in India, or travellers’ checks for a comparable amount.

3. India Internship Visa

Internship visa is given to a foreigner who wishes to work as an intern in an Indian company, educational institution, or non-governmental organisation if the following requirements are met:

The visa length must be limited to the duration of the internship or one year, whichever is shorter. Each Indian Mission/Post would be able to sponsor a maximum of 50 interns each year. This restriction will be 100 each year for nations with a population of more than one million PIOs (People of Indian Origin). The intern visa will be given immediately after graduation/post graduation, however the time between graduation/post graduation and the start of the internship should not be more than two years. Visas should only be granted on the basis of a letter from the Indian company/educational institution/NGO sponsoring the foreign national for the internship programme and indicating the period of the internship.

If the internship is at a company, the foreign national being sponsored for the internship shall be paid at least Rs. 7.80 lakhs per year. There will be no minimum compensation requirement for internships in educational institutions or non-governmental organisations.

4. X Visa

A foreigner may be awarded an entry (‘X’) visa under the following circumstances:

➤ A Person of Indian Origin who does not have an OCI card may be awarded a 'X-1' Visa for a term of five years with multiple entry.
➤ Spouses and children of an Indian citizen/Person of Indian Origin/OCI cardholder (other than those who are registered as OCI cardholder) may be granted a 'X-2' visa for a period of five years with multiple entry.

5. India Tourist Visa

This visa is given to international tourists who want to visit India for tourism, to visit family or friends, or to participate in a yoga or meditation retreat.

Travelers seeking this visa can apply for a one-month, one-year, or five-year visa. The one-month visa permits for a single 30-day admission into the nation, but the one and five-year visas allow for numerous visits within the time period. A single visit might last up to 90 days. Stays from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, or Japan can be extended for up to 180 days.

6. India Medical Visa

The Medical Visa allows tourists from certain nations to enter India several times to receive medical treatment. This visa is valid for 60 days from the date of initial entry and allows you to visit the country three times. In addition to submitting a passport scan, applicants for this visa must also provide a letter from an Indian hospital that includes their personal information as indicated in their passport.

What's the distinction between a visa and an e-visa?

A visa is a legal document that grants you permission to enter a specific country for a set period of time. An E-Visa is one that allows people to apply for a visa online. They can sign the application form, attach all of the required papers in virtual form, and then submit the application. A visa on arrival, on the other hand, means that you do not need a proper visa to travel and can simply purchase the tickets on your passport and then travel on your passport. Once you arrive at your destination, the authorities will stamp your passport with a on arrival visa, allowing you to stay in the country for a specific period of time.

The whole application procedure for E-Visa takes place in a virtual environment. You must apply for the visa by downloading and filling out the form on your smartphone. Then, in a file, attach all of the papers necessary to support the applications and submit it online.
You must ensure that you are attaching the files in the format specified. Because there is no going back if you make a mistake and submit the paperwork, you must do it correctly the first time.

E-Visas are not available in every nation, therefore the first thing you need do is check the list for the country you intend to apply for. The simplest approach to obtain an E-Visa is to download the form and then submit it.

What are the various kinds of e-visas accessible in India?

There are five high-level types of India eVisa (India Visa online application process):

➤ For tourism purposes, the e-Tourist Visa;
➤ For business purposes, the e-Business Visa;
➤ For medical purposes, the e-Medical Visa;
➤ For medical attendant purposes, the e-Medical Attendant Visa;
➤ For conference purposes, the e-Conference Visa.

eVisa India (electronic India Visa, which offers the same benefits as an Indian Visa) is only valid for entry into India at the authorised airports and seaports listed below. In other words, not all airports and seaports accept eVisa India for admission into India. As a passenger, it is your responsibility to ensure that your itinerary permits you to utilise this electronic India Visa. If you are entering India by a land border, for example, this digital India Visa (eVisa India) is not appropriate for your trip.

Where can I apply for Indian visa?

There are several ways to submit your application depending on the type of visa you require:

• Fill out the application at the Indian embassy in his native country
• Depending on his condition, apply for a visa in India
• Apply online on the Indian Embassy’s website.

How can foreigner apply for work visa in India?

To apply for an Indian work visa, individuals must fulfil one of many conditions. Individuals who qualify include, among others, people who are:

1. Employed by an Indian company or a multinational corporation with a branch office in India
2. Hired by an oversea business in India as an expert on a specific project
3. Involved in a non-governmental organization (NGO)
4. Working as a top executive for a multinational corporation

This list covers scenarios that may be applicable to your firm, but it is far from exhaustive.

The Application Procedure

The documentation required for your workers to get an Indian working visa may differ based on their place of origin and the type of the work they will be performing for your firm in India.

➤ A passport with at least one year's validity and three or more blank pages
➤ Two passport-size identification photographs
➤ A copy of the opening pages of the passport
➤ An employment contract printed in English that specifies the contract's duration and terms
➤ A copy of the company's registration certificate
➤ A visa application form
➤ An additional work visa application form, which can be found and downloaded on India Visa Online
➤ Tax liability information
➤ An English-language resume
➤ Duplicates of diplomas and any supporting documents required for professional competencies, such as a Curriculum vitae or recommendation letters

Employees must also provide face biometrics and fingerprints to acquire an E Visa.
The application process for a work visa in India is explained on the Government of India site. An employee must submit the required an online visa application in order to obtain an Indian work visa. They must also print a physical copy of the completed application and present it to their nearest Indian embassy with the necessary identity papers. After the application is granted, the applicant can pick up the visa at the embassy or have it mailed to them. Processing takes at least three business days from the receipt of the visa application, but it’s always a good idea for staff to secure visas ahead of time to avoid any complications for your organisation. Indian work visas are typically good for one year, however they can be extended for up to five years. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the employee’s state of domicile in India can renew visas.

How to Obtain Permanent Residency in India?

Naturalisation is the process through which a foreigner can get Indian citizenship. Applicants must have resided in India for 11 of the previous 14 years before applying.

Have lived in India for a continuous period of 12 months prior to the date of application.
Foreign investors investing through the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route will be granted Permanent Residency Status (PRS) subject to the relevant terms stipulated in the FDI policy notified by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) from period to period. It would apply to foreign investment in either a new or existing firm. Minimum investment of INR 10 crores (approx. USD 1.5 million) or INR 25 crores (approx. USD 3.75 million) over 18 or 36 months is required.

Every fiscal year, at least 20 locals or Indian residents must be employed as a result of an investment. PIO (Persons of Indian Descent):

1. This category includes all people of Indian origin who have a passport from another nation. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Sri Lanka are exceptions.

2. The OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card grants many of the same privileges as an Indian citizen. Because India does not allow dual citizenship, this card is intended for persons who have renounced their Indian citizenship but wish to maintain ties to the nation. It effectively gives a lifetime visa that allows numerous visits to India for whatever reason. Those who have an OCI card are not required to record their presence in India. An OCI card holder may apply for Indian citizenship if they have been registered as OCI for at least five years and have resided in India for at least one of the five years before the application.

3. The PIO card is available for 15 years and permits holders to enter India without a visa, including for education and jobs. Registration at the Foreign Registration Office (FRO) is not necessary for single stays of less than 180 days.

4. Those who have ever held an Indian passport or have parents, grandparents, or great ancestors who were born or lived in India are eligible for a PIO card. Those who are married to a person of Indian descent or wedded to an Indian citizen are also eligible.
Details on how to apply for a PIO may be obtained on the website of the Indian Embassy in the applicant’s home country.

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