Business Visa India

Eligibility
A Business Visa is strictly given to those who would like to make a business
related trip to India such as making sales or establishing contact on behalf of a
company outside of India.

An applicant going for employment in projects/contract in India needs to apply

for an Employment Visa, and not a Business Visa. If the applicant does not meet
the requirements of any other visa types, he/she should apply for an Entry Visa.

Spouse and dependent family members accompanying the applicant must apply
for an Entry Visa (NOT Tourist Visa). Their visa duration would end according to
the visa period of the principal visa holder. The Business Visa applicant must
receive the visa prior to applying for accompanying spouse and dependent
family members.

Eligibility Details
An India Business Visa is granted to the following types of foreign nationals:
Foreign nationals visiting India to establish an industrial/business venture or to
explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture in India.

Foreign nationals coming to India to purchase/sell industrial or commercial

products or consumer durables.

Foreign nationals coming to India for technical meetings/discussions, attending

board meetings, general meetings for providing business services support.

Foreign nationals coming to India for recruitment of manpower.

Foreign nationals who are partners in the business and/or functioning as directors
in the company.

Foreign nationals coming to India for consultations regarding exhibitions, for

participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, business fairs, etc.

Foreign buyers who come to transact business with supplies/potential suppliers

at a location in India, to evaluate or monitor quality, give specifications, place
orders, negotiate further supplies etc., relating to goods or services procured
from India.

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.

Foreign nationals coming to India for pre-sales activity not amounting to actual
execution of any contract or project.

Foreign trainees of multinational companies/corporate houses coming for inhouse training in the regional hubs of the concerned company located in India.

Foreign students sponsored by AIESEC for internship on project based work in

companies/industries.

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 tourist of foreigners or business relating to it, etc.

Conditions
Business Visa is granted subject to following conditions:
The applicant is a person of assured financial standing and has expertise in the
field of the intended business.

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.

The applicant will have to comply with all other requirements like payment of tax
liabilities etc.

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.

A 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 the
applicant in that particular country is more than two years.

Duration and Validity

A Business visa may be valid for one year or more with multiple entries. (U.S.
citizens can get 5 years or 10 years multiple-entry visa.) However, the period of
stay in India for each visit is limited to six months. A multiple entry Business visa
valid for ten years may be available to foreign businessmen who have set up or
intend to set up joint ventures in India.

The visa duration starts on the day of issuance, and not on the day of entry into
India.

Visa Extension
If the business visa is granted for a period less than five years, it can be
extended up to a maximum period of five years subject to following:
The gross sales/turnover from the business activities, for which the foreigner has
been granted the visa, is not less than Rs. 1 crore per annum (to be archived
within 2 years of setting up the business)

The first extension of the business visa shall be granted by the Ministry of Home
Affairs.

Further extensions, if required, may be granted by the State Governments/UT

administrations/FRRS/FROs on a year-to-year basis subject to good conduct,

production of necessary documents in support of continued business activity and

no adverse inputs, security related or otherwise, about the foreigner.

If the extension of the visa is denied, the foreigner shall leave India forthwith on
expiry of the period of validity of the visa.

India Entry Visa - Additional Documents

In addition to the regular set of documents required to get an India Visa, the
following additional documents are required for an Entry Visa.
Non Indian Spouses and Children or Grandchildren of Persons of Indian
Origin:
These applicants must produce proof of relationship with the Person of Indian
Origin:
The Non Indian spouse must show a marriage certificate and a copy of spouse's
Indian passport, or naturalization certificate that shows previous nationality is
Indian.

Non Indian children must a provide a birth certificate along with a copy of
parents Indian passport(s), or naturalization certificate that shows previous
nationality is Indian.

Non Indian grandchildren must provide a copy of the grandparents passport or a

government issued document showing that their grandparents held Indian
citizenship, and their parents birth certificate. This will show the Non Indian
grandchild's relationship to the Person who has held Indian Nationality.

Spouses and Dependent Children of Long Term India Visa Holders:

Spouse and dependent children of a foreign national coming to India on a visa
such as employment, business, research or student must produce the proof of
relationship. A marriage certificate is required for spouse and a birth certificate is
required for dependent children. Additionally, you must provide a copy of the
passport and a copy of the visa issued to the principle visa holder.