India Work Visa 2026: Employment Visa Requirements
India's work visa is the Employment visa. The Bureau of Immigration, part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, says foreigners who desire to work in India should arrive on a valid Employment visa, and that it is issued to highly skilled and qualified professionals engaged by an Indian company or by a foreign company executing a project in India. One requirement applies across sectors: a salary floor. This guide sets out that floor, who is exempt, how long the visa lasts, what you must do after arrival and what it costs, from the Bureau of Immigration, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian visa portal, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
A foreigner employed in any sector should draw a gross salary in excess of Rs. 16.25 lakhs per annum, with exemptions for a few categories. You apply online at the Indian visa portal and submit the form, documents and passport to the Indian Mission or its visa application centre, which needs a minimum of three working days to process a case. If the visa is valid for more than 180 days, you must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office within 14 days of arrival. The visa can be extended in India up to a total of 5 years. You cannot change employer during the visa.
Who the Employment visa is for
The Bureau of Immigration's list of visas gives three work sub-categories:
| Code | Who it covers |
|---|---|
| E1 | All cases of employment, including intra-company transferees, other than those covered by E-2 and E-3 |
| E2 | Employment in NGOs |
| E-3 | Missionaries and religious workers of approved organisations |
The Ministry of Home Affairs' document on visas, dated 20 August 2020 and still the version published on its website, adds two limits. An Employment visa is not granted for jobs for which qualified Indians are available, or for routine, ordinary or secretarial and clerical jobs. It is not granted to a citizen of Pakistan.
Other people who qualify
The same document lists further groups eligible for an Employment visa, including:
- Consultants on contract for whom the Indian company pays a fixed remuneration
- Foreign engineers and technicians coming to install and commission equipment, machines or tools under a supply contract
- Foreign nationals deputed to provide technical support or transfer know-how, for which the Indian company pays fees or royalty to the foreign company
- Self-employed foreign nationals providing engineering, medical, accounting, legal or other highly skilled services as independent consultants, where the law permits it
- Foreign language teachers and interpreters, and foreign specialist chefs
- Coaches of national or state level teams or reputed sports clubs
- Foreign journalists coming to work in Indian media organisations
When you need a Business visa instead
A foreigner who is a promoter or owner of a company holding majority stakes is required to enter India on a Business visa. The two visas do not overlap: a foreign national on a Business visa cannot take any salary or remuneration in India, and one who does must come on an Employment visa.
The salary floor
The Bureau of Immigration states that a foreigner employed in any sector should draw a gross salary in excess of Rs. 16.25 lakhs per annum. A lakh is one hundred thousand rupees. The Ministry's document explains how the figure is worked out: it takes into account the salary and all other allowances paid in cash, and perquisites such as rent-free accommodation that count as salary for income tax. Those perquisites should be quantified and stated in the employment contract.
| Situation | Salary rule |
|---|---|
| Foreign national employed in any sector | Gross salary in excess of Rs. 16.25 lakhs per annum |
| Teaching faculty at the level of Assistant Professor and above at IITs, Central Universities, NITs, IIMs and IISERs | Minimum of Rs. 9.10 lakhs per annum |
| Nationals of Bangladesh married to Indian nationals who are not eligible for registration as OCI cardholders | Minimum of Rs. 9.10 lakhs per annum |
| Visa for a period of less than one year | The minimum is worked out on a pro-rata basis |
| Honorary work with an NGO registered in India | No salary. An honorarium up to a ceiling of Rs. 10,000 per month may be paid |
Who is exempt from the floor
- Ethnic cooks employed by foreign Missions in India, but not those in a commercial venture
- Language teachers, other than English language teachers, and translators
- Staff working for the Embassy or High Commission concerned in India
- Foreigners doing honorary work without salary for NGOs registered in the country
- Foreign teaching faculty employed in the South Asian University and Nalanda University
- Circus artists
Two points go the other way. Foreigners employed in BPO and IT-enabled services are not eligible for exemption from the floor, and specialist chefs in a commercial venture have to meet the Rs. 16.25 lakhs figure.
How long the visa lasts
| Category | Duration |
|---|---|
| Technician or expert coming under a bilateral agreement between governments, or a collaboration agreement approved by the Government of India | Duration of the agreement or five years, whichever is less, with multiple entry |
| Highly skilled foreign personnel employed in the IT software and IT-enabled sectors | Up to three years or the term of assignment, whichever is less, with multiple entry |
| Employment not covered above | Up to 2 years or the term of assignment, whichever is less, with multiple entry |
These durations come from the Ministry's 2020 document, which sets out separate provisions for Japanese nationals. The visa portal's summary table gives the period for an Employment visa as 1 year or the period of the contract, with multiple entry. Check the validity printed on the visa you are issued.
Extension
The Employment visa may be extended by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) beyond the initial validity, up to a total period of 5 years from the date of issue of the initial visa, on a year to year basis. An extension request has to be made within the validity of the current visa, online at indianfrro.gov.in, and such services are available only to foreign nationals who are present in India.
How to apply, step by step
- Get the contract. The visa portal lists proof of employment, meaning the appointment document, and the terms and conditions as the documents required.
- Fill in the online form at indianvisaonline.gov.in and select the Indian Mission where you will apply. Each form is for one person only.
- Print and sign the form and submit it with the supporting documents and your passport at the Indian Visa Application Center or the Indian Mission on the appointed date.
- Pay the fee. It depends on the visa type and its duration, and the final fee is charged at the counter. Fees are not refunded if the visa is not granted.
- Wait for processing. The Mission requires a minimum of three working days to process a case, depending on nationality and excluding special cases.
- Submit the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before you arrive in India.
- Register with the FRRO or FRO within 14 days of arrival if your visa is valid for more than 180 days.
The e-Visa does not cover employment. Its categories are tourist, business, medical, medical attendant, student, transit, film, miscellaneous, entry, production investment and family, so a work visa goes through the regular application at a Mission.
What it costs
Each Indian Mission publishes its own fee schedule. As an example, the Embassy of India in Washington lists these fees for nationals of the USA:
| Employment (E) visa | Fee in US$ |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 months, single or multiple entry | 140.00 |
| More than 6 months and up to 1 year, multiple entry | 220.00 |
| More than 1 year and up to 5 years, multiple entry | 320.00 |
On top of the visa fee, the Embassy says applicants pay US$ 3.00 for the Indian Community Welfare Fund, plus the service charge of VFS Global, its outsourcing provider. For other nationalities, check the website of the Indian Mission where you apply.
Rules that apply once you are in India
- No change of employer. The Bureau of Immigration says no change of employer is permitted during the currency of the Employment visa. A foreigner who wants to change employer has to leave the country and apply for a fresh Employment visa. The Ministry's document allows an exception, with its prior permission, for moves between a registered holding company and its subsidiaries.
- One employer at a time. Foreigners are not allowed to work for more than one company simultaneously on an Employment visa.
- Tell the FRRO if the job ends. The FRRO or FRO concerned is to be informed if the person discontinues the employment.
- Tax. The foreign national must comply with all legal requirements, including payment of tax liabilities. Under one of the Income Tax Department's tests, an individual is resident in India for a year if they are in India for 182 days or more during it.
- Penalties. Overstay, non-registration and activities that do not match the visa are subject to action under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. The Bureau gives penalties ranging from 10000 to 3 lakhs for each offence, as well as imprisonment.
Family members
Family members and dependents of a foreigner granted an Employment visa may be granted a dependent visa, whose validity runs with the visa of the principal holder or for a shorter period set by the Mission. The Bureau's current list calls this the Family visa (F), for dependents of various visa category holders. Family members may also obtain a Student or Research visa if they are otherwise eligible.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for an India work visa?
A foreigner employed in any sector should draw a gross salary in excess of Rs. 16.25 lakhs per annum. Some categories are exempt, and for teaching faculty at certain central institutions the minimum is Rs. 9.10 lakhs per annum.
How long is an Indian Employment visa valid?
For employment not covered by a special category, up to 2 years or the term of assignment, whichever is less. For IT software and IT-enabled sectors, up to three years. It can be extended in India up to a total of 5 years from the date of issue of the initial visa.
How much does an India work visa cost for US citizens?
The Embassy of India in Washington lists US$ 140.00 for up to 6 months, US$ 220.00 for more than 6 months and up to 1 year, and US$ 320.00 for more than 1 year and up to 5 years, plus US$ 3.00 for the Indian Community Welfare Fund and the VFS service charge.
Can I change jobs on an Indian Employment visa?
No. A foreigner who wants to change employer has to leave the country and apply for a fresh Employment visa, apart from the limited exception for moves within a group of companies with the Ministry's prior permission.
Do I have to register after arriving in India?
Yes, if the Employment visa is valid for more than 180 days. You register with the jurisdictional FRRO or FRO within 14 days of arrival.
Can I get an Indian work visa online as an e-Visa?
No. Employment is not among the e-Visa categories. You fill in the regular visa form online and submit it at the Indian Mission or its visa application centre.
Can I volunteer for an NGO in India on a tourist visa?
The tourist visa covers voluntary work on a short term without monetary payment. Foreigners who intend to work with a non-profit on a voluntary basis, with or without an honorarium of up to Rs. 10,000 per month, are required to obtain an Employment visa.
Official sources
- Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs — Work in India
- Bureau of Immigration — List of visas
- Bureau of Immigration — Business in India
- Bureau of Immigration — Registration requirements
- Bureau of Immigration — Visa extension and conversion
- Bureau of Immigration — Penalties
- Bureau of Immigration — General guidelines for those travelling to India
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division — Details of visas granted by India (20 August 2020)
- Indian Visa Online — Regular visa application
- Indian Visa Online — Visa provision
- Indian Visa Online — Visa processing time
- Indian Visa Online — Visa fee
- Indian Visa Online — e-Visa
- Embassy of India, Washington DC — Revised visa fees for USA nationals
- Embassy of India, Washington DC — Apply Indian visa
- Income Tax Department — Non-resident individual for AY 2026-2027
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The Ministry of Home Affairs document is dated 20 August 2020, and the Bureau of Immigration notes that conditions are subject to change, so confirm the requirements with the Indian Mission where you apply. Information, not legal or tax advice.