India business visa application, requirements, price, and processing time

Besides its tragic history, India is known for a lot of things, including delicious cuisines and gorgeous landscapes. This is why the country is one of the most popular destinations all around the globe for fun and glamour.

Unless you are from a country that enjoys the Indian visa exemption policy, you are required to have a travel document to enter India, regardless of your purpose.

Types Of Indian Business Visas

Instead of a tourist visa, if you want to visit India for professional and commercial purposes, you must obtain a business visa. India offers two types of business visas, including:

Regular Visa

If you don’t mind visiting the Indian embassy, you can apply for a regular business visa. India's regular visa allows a holder to stay in the country for 180 days for business purposes, such as:

• Attending seminars and conferences

• Meeting with business associates

• Signing a contract

This one is a multiple-entry visa that stays valid for up to 1 year. This means a holder can enter India as many times as desired within 12 months.

Required documents

To get an Indian traditional visa, you must fulfill some visa requirements. You must have the following documents required for an Indian regular visa:

• Visa application form - To get your visa application form, you can visit VisaHQ. You'll need to submit a copy of your valid passport, proof of address, and photograph to get your online form.

• Valid passport - All applicants must have their original passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining and 2 blank pages for stamps.

• Business support letter - You'll also need a business support letter issued by a company located in your country. The letter should be addressed to "the consulate of India, visa section."

• Business invitation letter - You also need invitation letters from an Indian company to get a regular visa.

• Letter of incorporation - The sponsoring company located in India must provide its letter of incorporation.

• Proof of residency - You can use a lease agreement, electric, gas, or water wall, or a driver's license as proof of residency.

• Proof of status - You'll also need a copy of your immigration status, such as a resident card, study, or work permit.

Besides these, you might need a few additional documents depending on your citizenship. Therefore, it's recommended to visit the VisaHQ portal for your country to determine all the visa and entry requirements for an Indian visa!

Electronic Visa

Instead of a traditional paper or stamp visa, we recommend applying for an Indian electronic visa. This is because applying for an e-visa is both fast and convenient. You don’t need to visit the Indian embassy or follow complicated steps.

For business purposes, the Indian government offers a business e-visa. This one is also a multiple-entry travel document that stays valid for 1 year. An e-visa allows a holder to stay in India for 180 consecutive days. The only difference between an e-visa and a regular visa is that not all foreign nationals are eligible for an e-visa.

For instance, Pakistani passport holders are not eligible for an e-visa. They must apply for a regular business visa if they want to enter India for business purposes. Moreover, International Travel Document Holders, Laissez-Passer holders, and official and diplomatic passport holders are not eligible for an e-visa.

Required documents

Indian e-visa is designed to make the visa application process simple. Therefore, you only need a few documents to apply for an e-visa, including:

• Copy of your original passport

• Passport type photograph

• Business card

A foreign national with an Indian e-visa can enter the country through selective airports, including:

• Ahmedabad

• Mumbai

• Chennai

• Goa

• Delhi

• Lucknow

• Kolkata

• Jaipur

• Hyderabad, and a few more.

How To Apply For An Indian Business Visa Online?

Compared to a traditional visa, applying for an Indian e-visa is more convenient. No more visiting the Indian embassy or following complicated steps. All you need to do is visit VisaHQ, select your citizenship, and follow 3 simple steps:

• Fill out the online visa application form

• Pay the applicable e-visa fees

• Submit your online form and supporting documents

That's it! Afterward, you will get your electronic visa via email! Keep in mind that an e-visa does not guarantee your entry into India; the immigration officer has the final say!

If, for some reason, you are not eligible for an e-visa, you can apply for a regular business visa. To do so, you'll need a visa application form that can be obtained from VisaHQ. All you need to do is submit some documents and provide contact, travel, passport, and personal details.

Processing Time

Regardless of your selected Indian visa type, you'll need to wait a few days to get your travel document. That being said, foreign citizens can get an e-visa faster than a regular one.

On average, the processing time for a regular visa is around 10-15 days. Alternatively, applicants can get an e-visa within 3-5 business days!