India has taken a decisive step to plug critical skills gaps in its expanding manufacturing and infrastructure sectors by relaxing long-standing business-visa hurdles and unveiling a fully digital sponsorship system. Announced on 18 December by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the reform eliminates additional security clearances that were imposed in the aftermath of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and had slowed approvals for Chinese engineers and technicians to a crawl.
Under the new framework, Indian companies can log into a DPIIT portal, generate an electronic sponsorship letter in minutes and attach it directly to an e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4) application. Previously, firms had to shuttle hard-copy invitations between multiple ministries, a process that routinely stretched beyond three months and left imported production lines idle. The government has committed to processing most applications within four weeks, a timeline welcomed by electronics, solar-cell and heavy-machinery manufacturers that rely heavily on Chinese specialists for installation, commissioning and training.
Companies that would like a helping hand navigating the new e-B-4 process can turn to VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) already interfaces with the Indian government’s digital visa systems. VisaHQ guides users through each step, from uploading sponsorship letters to tracking application status in real time, allowing HR teams and project managers to cut down on paperwork and ensure compliance with the latest requirements.
![India Eases Business Visa Rules and Launches Digital Sponsorship Platform to Attract Foreign (Especially Chinese) Experts]()
Diplomats note that the move coincides with a thaw in India-China relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Beijing in seven years. While strategic tensions remain, industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry argue that selectively decoupling trade from security concerns will add billions to India’s annual industrial output and support its ‘Make in India’ and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
The reform also applies to experts from Japan, South Korea, Germany and other key source markets, signalling that India is determined to accelerate technology transfer and factory roll-outs amid global supply-chain realignments. Immigration lawyers advise companies to review the fine print—engineers entering under the streamlined rule must depart once their assignment is complete, or transition to a long-term employment visa if required.
For mobility managers, the practical takeaway is clear: budget shorter lead times for inbound technical staff but ensure that project timelines, return tickets and social-security compliance are carefully documented in the new online system to avoid penalties.
Under the new framework, Indian companies can log into a DPIIT portal, generate an electronic sponsorship letter in minutes and attach it directly to an e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4) application. Previously, firms had to shuttle hard-copy invitations between multiple ministries, a process that routinely stretched beyond three months and left imported production lines idle. The government has committed to processing most applications within four weeks, a timeline welcomed by electronics, solar-cell and heavy-machinery manufacturers that rely heavily on Chinese specialists for installation, commissioning and training.
Companies that would like a helping hand navigating the new e-B-4 process can turn to VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) already interfaces with the Indian government’s digital visa systems. VisaHQ guides users through each step, from uploading sponsorship letters to tracking application status in real time, allowing HR teams and project managers to cut down on paperwork and ensure compliance with the latest requirements.
Diplomats note that the move coincides with a thaw in India-China relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Beijing in seven years. While strategic tensions remain, industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry argue that selectively decoupling trade from security concerns will add billions to India’s annual industrial output and support its ‘Make in India’ and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
The reform also applies to experts from Japan, South Korea, Germany and other key source markets, signalling that India is determined to accelerate technology transfer and factory roll-outs amid global supply-chain realignments. Immigration lawyers advise companies to review the fine print—engineers entering under the streamlined rule must depart once their assignment is complete, or transition to a long-term employment visa if required.
For mobility managers, the practical takeaway is clear: budget shorter lead times for inbound technical staff but ensure that project timelines, return tickets and social-security compliance are carefully documented in the new online system to avoid penalties.
