Immigration Alert - India’s Revised Visa Framework | Implications for Business Travel and Employment

Visa category

What it means for applicants and employers

Visitor Visa

The Tourist Visa has been renamed the Visitor Visa and divided into V-1 and V-2. V-1 covers eligible short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-duration medical treatment and short courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft. It is granted for 30 days with multiple entries. V-2 covers the activities permitted under V-1 as well as mountaineering, with validity options of one, five or ten years, as applicable. For mountaineering, the release specifies a six-month, multiple-entry visa.

Business Visa

B-1 covers long-term, licence-based business activities, such as establishing an industrial or business venture in India. B-2 covers short-term, contract-based activities, including conferences, sports, performing arts, film projects and qualifying Production Investment Business engagements.

Existing Production Investment Business e-Visa (e-B-4). Eligible Indian companies and LLPs generate a digital sponsorship letter through the National Single Window System (NSWS) for foreign specialists undertaking qualifying short-term activities such as installation and commissioning, production ramp-up, training and technology transfer. Applicants use the letter’s unique reference to apply through the Indian e-Visa portal. The visa is valid for up to six months. Visa holders must report to the local FRRO/FRO after arrival and, where the visa requires formal registration, complete it by the deadline specified on the visa.

Change under B-2. The Production Investment Business Visa falls under B-2 in the revised framework and will continue to be issued through the e-Visa platform. MHA has yet to publish detailed filing instructions confirming whether the existing NSWS sponsorship steps will carry over.

Work Visa

Covers long-term employment with Indian companies or organisations, work with NGOs and missionary activities. Employers should assess this category for foreign nationals taking up long-term roles with an Indian entity.

Student Visa

S-1 covers school, undergraduate and postgraduate education. S-2 covers specified activities including doctoral study, research, visiting faculty assignments, internships and student exchanges.

Eligible students enrolled through the Study in India portal may receive a multiple-entry e-S-1 Visa for up to five years or the duration of the course, whichever is shorter.

Medical Visa

M-1 covers treatment outside the AYUSH systems, while M-3 covers AYUSH treatment. Both categories, including their e-Visa variants, have a default validity of one year with multiple entries. M-2 and M-4 are the corresponding visas for medical attendants.

Diplomatic Visa

Covers diplomats, including UN diplomats assigned to or visiting India, and their dependants. No specific changes were announced in the 11 November release.

Journalist Visa

Covers journalists accredited in India. No specific changes were announced in the 11 November release.

Official Visa

Covers non-diplomatic officials, including UN officials assigned to or visiting India, and their dependants. No specific changes were announced in the 11 November release.

Miscellaneous Visa

Covers specified groups, including persons of Indian origin and their spouses and children, dependants of foreign nationals holding long-duration visas, individuals joining specified institutions, and certain stay and long-term visa cases.

The 11 November release sets out the category’s scope without detailing changes to eligibility, validity or filing procedures.