The Short Answer
To qualify for an India Employment Visa, your gross salary must be above ₹16.25 lakh a year. That is the figure in MHA's visa guidelines, and the one India's missions state today — the Consulate General in San Francisco's Employment Visa page, updated in September 2026, gives the same number.
Practical implication: the figure is a floor on the whole package, not a target to scrape past. Where a contract runs for less than a year, the requirement is worked out pro rata. Offers built comfortably above the line rarely turn on this question; offers engineered to clear it by a few thousand rupees frequently draw a query.
The test is applied to your total package, not just cash salary, and there are specific reduced thresholds and exemptions. Getting this number — and how it is structured — right is the single most common make-or-break factor in employment visa cases we see.
What Counts Toward the Threshold
The threshold is assessed on aggregate remuneration, which can include:
- Base salary (cash component)
- Allowances paid as part of the package
- Perquisites — such as rent-free accommodation, where it forms part of the declared package
This matters in both directions. A package that looks below the line on cash salary alone may qualify once housing and allowances are counted — but the structure must be documented in the employment contract and defensible. Packages engineered at the last minute to scrape over the threshold attract scrutiny.
The Reduced Threshold and Exemptions
Not everyone needs ₹16.25 lakh. Verified categories with different treatment include:
| Category | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Teaching faculty (Assistant Professor and above) at IITs, Central Universities, NITs, IIMs and IISERs | Reduced threshold — ₹9.10 lakh per year |
| Bangladeshi nationals married to Indian nationals and not eligible for OCI | Reduced threshold — ₹9.10 lakh per year |
| PIOs, and spouses or children of Indian citizens, PIOs or OCI cardholders (not themselves OCI-registered) | Reduced threshold — ₹3.60 lakh per year |
| Ethnic cooks employed by foreign missions in India | Exempt — but not cooks or chefs in commercial kitchens |
| Language teachers (other than English) and translators/interpreters | Exempt |
| Staff of foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates | Exempt |
| Honorary work with NGOs registered in India | No salary floor — an honorarium of up to ₹10,000 a month is allowed |
| Faculty at South Asian University and Nalanda University; circus artists; artistes performing under contract for hotels and clubs; coaches of national, state or reputed sports teams | Exempt |
Three cautions. The ethnic-cook exemption covers cooks employed by foreign missions only — MHA's guidelines say a foreign specialist chef hired by a restaurant or hotel needs the full ₹16.25 lakh. "Language teacher" means teaching a non-English language, not teaching a subject in a foreign language. And roles in BPO or IT-enabled services can never use these exemptions. Misclassifying a role into an exempt category is a fast route to refusal.
The 2026 E-1 / E-2 / E-3 Categories
Under the June 2026 restructuring of India's employment visa system (following the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025), employment visas are organised into three categories:
- E-1 — most employment cases: direct hires and consultants
- E-2 — specific intra-company transfer cases
- E-3 — NGO, missionary and religious workers
The salary threshold applies within this framework, and the category determines the sponsor documents required. If you are transferring within a corporate group, note that changing employers on an Employment Visa has its own rules.
How the Threshold Is Checked
Expect the salary evidence to be examined at multiple points:
- At application — the employment contract and salary breakdown are core documents
- At extension — continued compliance with the threshold is reassessed
- At FRRO registration — the employment details on file must match
Keep the contract, salary certificate and tax documents consistent — mismatches between them are a classic deficiency-notice trigger.
If Your Package Is Near the Line
This is exactly the situation where preparation determines the outcome. Options typically include restructuring the package (legitimately, with proper documentation), reassessing whether an exempt category genuinely applies, or reconsidering whether a Business Visa is actually the correct instrument for the activity. What you should not do is submit and hope — a refusal goes on your record.
For the official position, see the Ministry of Home Affairs' work-visa FAQ (PDF) and our directory of official government portals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary for an India Employment Visa in 2026?
A gross salary above ₹16.25 lakh a year — the figure in MHA's guidelines and on India's missions' Employment Visa pages. It is assessed on total remuneration, including allowances and perquisites such as rent-free accommodation where they are counted for income tax and quantified in the contract. Reduced rates apply to some faculty (₹9.10 lakh) and to PIOs and family members of Indian citizens (₹3.60 lakh), and a few roles are exempt.
Does the threshold have to be met in cash salary?
No — the test is aggregate remuneration. Documented allowances and perquisites such as rent-free accommodation can count toward the threshold, provided the employment contract clearly supports them.
Who is exempt from the employment visa salary threshold?
MHA's guidelines exempt ethnic cooks employed by foreign missions (not commercial kitchens), teachers and translators of languages other than English, staff of the embassy or high commission concerned, honorary NGO workers (who may receive an honorarium of up to ₹10,000 a month), faculty at South Asian University and Nalanda University, and circus artists; missions also list artistes contracted by hotels and clubs, and coaches of national, state or reputed sports teams. BPO and IT-enabled services roles are never exempt.
Is the threshold checked again when I extend my visa?
Yes. Extensions reassess whether the employment still meets the requirements, so a package that drifted below the line — or documentation that no longer matches — surfaces at extension time.
Disclaimer
India Visa Experts is an independent private consulting firm, not affiliated with the Government of India. Salary thresholds, categories and exemptions are set by the authorities and change over time — the figures above reflect the position as verified in July 2026 against official and reputable professional sources. Always confirm the current requirement before relying on it. This article is general guidance only and not legal advice.