Like any other country, India has its own visa regulations that enable employees to live and work in the country.
Types of work visas in India
In India, there are specific requirements for issuing visas and work permits to international team members. The main type of visa is simply called an employment visa. Employment visas are only available to employees of organizations registered in India. As a result, employees cannot begin the process of obtaining a permit until they have an employment contract. In addition, your company must have a legal entity registered in India, or partner with an employer of record, to process the visa.
Requirements to obtain India work visas
Individuals must meet several requirements to qualify for an India work visa. Qualifying individuals can include those who are:
- Employed by either an India-based company or a company with multinational operations including a branch office in India.
- Have a minimum salary of at least INR 100,000 per month (approx. USD 25,000 per annum).
- Be highly skilled and/or qualified professional. Employment visas cannot be issued for jobs for which qualified local nationals are available.
This list includes circumstances that may be relevant to your company, but it’s by no means a comprehensive list.
Application process
The documents employees will need to obtain an India working visa may vary depending on their country of origin as well as the nature of the work they’ll be doing for your company in India. Generally required documents include:
- A passport that’s valid for at least 6 months and contains 2 or more blank pages
- 2 photographs confirming to Indian government norms: 5×5 centimeters
- A copy of the passport’s first pages
- An employment contract, written in English and containing the duration and employment conditions
- A copy of the company’s registration certificate
- A visa application form
- An extra work visa application form
- Tax liability details
- A resume in English
- Copies of diplomas and any supporting documents related to professional competencies, such as a CV or letters of recommendation
To obtain an employment visa, employees must also submit facial biometrics and fingerprints.
The process for obtaining an employment visa in India is outlined on the Government of India website. In order to get an India employment visa, an employee will need to complete and submit an online visa application. They must also print out a physical copy of the completed application and bring it to their nearest India embassy along with the required documents for identification. After the application is approved, the visa can be picked up at the embassy or mailed to the applicant.
The application process is divided into 3 main steps:
- Online application
- Submission of documents at the India visa Centre (in the country of origin of the traveler, or the country of current domicile – for the latter minimum 2 years of stay is required)
- Post arrival registration in India
India work visas are generally valid for 1 year and renewable by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the employee’s state of residence in India. Typically, employment visas may be extended up to a total period of 5 years from the date of issuance of the initial employment visa, on a year-to-year basis.
Other important considerations
Some employees may be relocating to India along with family members and other dependents. Any spouses and dependent family members accompanying the applicant will need to apply for an entry visa, not just a tourist visa. The duration of their entry visa will be assessed according to the main applicant’s visa. Spouses also need to obtain a separate work permit if their intention is to work.
Employees should also be advised that the duration of their visa begins from the day it’s issued, not from the day they enter India.
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For this particular location, G-P may offer support processing certain work visas and permits. Contact us today to assess your specific needs.