Decision made to go to India means to start applying for a visa, only after that the new adventure should be planed further, without a visa not entry in the country and it is the base for registration, taxation, school, driving licence, rental agreements and so on. Although the rules of India should lead to uniform visa rules worldwide one can find different interpretations depending on the historic and actual political relationship of the country with India. Thus check the actual requirements with your embassy.
Basic visas for people with business ambitions and their families are the tourist visa, visas for spouse and dependents, the business visa and the employment visa. Find further down the regulations for that from the Indian embassy in Germany as a first guideline.
Some remarks to stress some points:
Some remarks to stress some points:
Tourist visa cannot be renewed straight after the old one expired, here a gap of two month is required. Means such solution for unmarried spouses are not working.
The business visa is normally not be renewed in India, best it is done in the home country. There are exceptions if the business is bigger than 10 Mio INR, but still depends on the local authorities. The employment visa can only be extended in India over the authorised FRROs or home ministry, here an agent can help to handle the paperwork. Extensions have to be applied for 3 month before expiry of the old visas, best to enter that date in the calendar, because it is important and often forgotten otherwise.
The duration of the visa is very common one year, for longer once the embassy have limited contingents and are therefore restrictive with it. In case you thing you are applicable for it consider longer application time because such applications need special approvals from higher authorities.
If you have gotten your visa please check the dates and duration and if there are any stamps or remarks written on it, there are sometimes differences to the application. Very often it is written that a registration for stays longer than 180 days is required. And in that case you have to register within 14 days after your arrival, proven by the airport stamp, with all necessary documents. More to that in our separate registration blog.
All in all sounds complicated, but is manageable, should be taken serious and should be done with good time advance to avoid hectic.
Excerpt from Indian embassy about visa requirements:
Tourist Visa
Persons wishing to visit India as tourists, or for meeting friends and relatives, will be given six months tourist visas. Tourist visas are non-extendable and non-convertible.
Documents required
- Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages.
- Two recent identical passport-size photographs.
- Filled application form.
A minimum gap of 2 months is mandatory between visits as tourists to India
Business Visa
Business Visa is granted to a foreign national who wants to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture, or wants to purchase/sell industrial products in India. Registration is required within 14 days of arrival if stay exceeds beyond 180 days.
Documents required
- Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages.
- Two recent identical passport-size photographs.
- Filled application form (all the columns of the form are mandatory and must be filled)
- An original signed letter from the company in Germany explaining the nature of business and duration of visit.
- A signed Letter of invitation from an Indian company on their official company letter head clearly stating the purpose and duration for which visa is requested.
Employment Visa
Employment visa is granted to a foreigner who wants to take up an employment in India. Visa is granted for a duration of the employment or to a maximum period of two years whichever is less by the Embassy of India Berlin or respective Consulates. Registration is required within 14 days of arrival if employment visa is more than 6 months.
Foreign nationals who wishes to come to India for honorary work (without salary) with NGOs registered in India are granted employment visa for a one year duration. Further extension is done by the state governments/Union Territories/Foreigners Regional Registration Office, and Foreigner's registration Office.
Employment visa will not be extended by the Embassy or the Consulates in Germany. Extension of Employment visa needs to be done in India by the FRROs/MHA.
Documents required
- Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages.
- Two recent identical passport-size photographs.
- Filled application form (all columns in the form are mandatory and must be filled).
- Proof of employment or contract or engagement by the company/organization etc. in India
- Letter issued by the company in Germany. Details of the assignment, terms and conditions, contract signed with Indian companies etc.
- Documentary proof of educational qualifications or professional expertise.
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