India employment
visa

To be eligible for an India Employment Visa, you must:

• Be a highly skilled and / or qualified professional.
• Have an employment contract from a company or organisation in India.
• Be paid a salary of at least USD 25000 per annum (INR 16.25 lakhs).

The above salary requirements do not apply to the following:

• Foreign specialist chefs/ethnic cooks.
• Language teachers (other than English language) or translators.
• Staff working for a Foreign Embassy/High Commission in India.
• Foreign nationals who wish to come to India for honorary work (without salary) with NGOs registered in India are granted employment visa for one year duration. However, foreign national can draw a monthly remuneration not exceeding Rs.10000/- for honorary work.

The work visa application can be filed in the applicant’s country of nationality or country of residency.

The basic steps to file an application for an India Employment Visa are as follows:

• Step 1: Complete and submit the online visa application form.
• Step 2: Submit your application with required documents at Indian Visa Application Center or at Indian Mission.
• Step 3: Collect your passport and visa from Indian Mission/Visa Application Center or by post.

Registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is required within 14 days of arrival in India if the stay is more than 180 days. Changes to individuals’ personal details or a change in address also need to be updated via the FRRO.

The Employment Visa application fee may vary depending on your nationality and where you are submitting your application. Please speak to the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters for the latest information on India visa fees.

Each Employment Visa application is processed individually by the Embassy. As a result, processing times may vary, although it usually takes around 7 – 10 working days from date of submission.

An India Employment Visa is generally granted for up to one year. It may be possible to extend your employment visa within India for up to 5 years. If you wish to change employer, you will need to make a fresh application for an employment visa from the Indian Mission in your country of origin.