How long is an Indian Business Visa valid?
The e-Business Visa is valid for 365 days from the grant of the ETA, with multiple entry. A regular Business Visa is commonly granted for five years with multiple entry; MHA's guidelines allow ten years for citizens of the US, Canada, Japan, the UK and South Africa, leave it to the mission (up to five years) for 30 listed nationalities, and apply bilateral rules to Bangladesh, China and Pakistan. On both, each continuous stay is limited to 180 days.
Can I work in India on a Business Visa?
No. MHA's guidelines rule out full-time employment on a Business Visa, and taking a role with an Indian company or drawing a salary from one needs an Employment Visa. Business activity carried out for your foreign employer — meetings, negotiations, project oversight, trade fairs — is what the visa is for.
Can I apply for a Business e-Visa for India?
Yes, if your nationality is eligible. The e-Business Visa is applied for online on the official portal, at least 4 days and up to 120 days before arrival. It is valid for 365 days from the grant of the ETA, with multiple entry and a continuous stay of up to 180 days on each visit, and it covers the same activities as the regular Business Visa.
What activities are permitted on a Business Visa?
MHA's list includes setting up or exploring a business venture, buying and selling products, technical and Board meetings, recruiting, trade fairs and exhibitions, short project-monitoring visits by experts, pre- and post-sales activity that does not amount to executing a contract, and in-house training at a multinational's Indian hub. It excludes money lending, petty trade and full-time employment.
How long does the Business Visa application process take?
It depends on the mission you apply to, so check the time its own page quotes. MHA's guidelines let missions issue a business visa within 48 hours in urgent cases, and the e-Business Visa can be applied for as little as 4 days before arrival. Apply as early as your plans allow.
Do I need an invitation letter for an India Business Visa?
For a regular Business Visa, missions commonly ask for one — the Consulate General of India in Dubai, for example, requires an invitation letter from the Indian company and that company's registration certificate. For the e-Business Visa, the portal lists the invitation letter as optional; the business card is required. Where you provide one, it must agree with your application on purpose, dates and counterpart details.
Can I convert a Business Visa into an Employment Visa in India?
MHA's guidelines make a Business Visa non-convertible except in specific cases. If a business relationship turns into a job, the usual path is a fresh Employment Visa sponsored by the Indian employer, applied for from outside India and meeting the salary threshold.
Can my spouse or family accompany me on a Business Visa?
Not on your visa, but MHA's guidelines give family members of a Business Visa holder a dependant visa of the appropriate sub-category, valid in step with yours. They can instead hold a Student or Research visa if they qualify for one.
Can I receive a salary in India on a Business Visa?
No. Earning a salary from an Indian entity is employment, which a Business Visa does not authorise. Your remuneration should continue to come from your foreign employer; anything else needs the Employment Visa route.
Can I work remotely for my foreign employer while in India on a Business Visa?
Continuing your normal duties for your foreign employer while travelling for the business purpose of your visa is generally uncontroversial. Basing yourself in India long-term to work remotely is a grey area India has no digital-nomad visa for — take advice before treating a Business Visa as a remote-work permit.
Can I stay 180 days continuously on a Business Visa?
Yes — 180 days is the limit on each continuous stay, and within it no FRRO registration is needed. If you will exceed 180 days, on one visit or across a calendar year, you must register with the FRRO before the 180 days run out. A pattern of maximum-length stays can also invite questions about whether the activity is really employment.
Does time in India on a Business Visa affect my tax residency?
It can. India's tax-residency tests are day-count based (the well-known threshold is 182 days in a financial year, with other supplementary tests), and they operate independently of your visa category. If your India days are adding up, take advice from a tax professional — visa compliance and tax residency are separate problems.
Will I need an Exit Permit when leaving India on a Business Visa?
Not if your visa and stay are valid when you depart — you simply exit. Exit Permits become relevant only if your visa expires, you overstay, or your passport is lost while in India.
