How to apply for a employment visa
An Employment visa is granted to a foreigner who is a highly skilled and/or qualified professional. Employment Visa shall not be granted – (i) for jobs for which qualified Indians are available and (ii) for routine, ordinary or secretarial/clerical jobs. Please check the eligibility conditions for more information
How to apply
Step 1
Apply online
Step 2
Submit Documents
Submit your application with required documents at Indian Visa Application Center or at Indian Mission.
Documents required with application
Proof of employment (appointment document), terms and conditions.
Photo Requirements
Online India Visa Application allows the Applicant to upload a digital photograph of self to complete the regular visa application.
The digital photograph to be uploaded along with the Visa application should meet the following requirements:
- Format JPEG
- Size
- Minimum 10 KB
- Maximum 300 KB
- The height and width of the Photo must be equal.
- Photo should present Full face, front view, eyes open.
- Center head within frame and present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
- Background should be plain light colored or white background.
- No shadows on the face or on the background.
- Without borders.
- Make sure that photo presents full head from top of hair to bottom of chin. Head should measure 1 inch to 1-3/8 inches (25mm to 35mm). Make sure eye height is between 1-1/8 inches to 1-3.
Step 3
Receive Passport, Visa
Collect your passport/visa from Indian Mission/Visa Application Center or by post.
Duration of Employment Visa
Category | Duration of Employment Visa |
(i) A foreign technician/expert coming to India in pursuance of a bilateral agreement between the Government of India and the foreign government, or in pursuance of a collaboration agreement that has been approved by the Government of India. | Duration of the agreement or for a period of five years, whichever is less, with multiple entry facilities. |
(ii) Highly skilled foreign personnel being employed in the IT software and IT enabled sectors. | Up to three years or term of assignment, whichever is less, with multiple entry facilities. |
(iii) Foreigner coming for employment not covered in (i) or (ii) above. | Up to 2 (two) years or the term of assignment, whichever is less, with multiple entry. |
Instructions
A. Online Application Form
- This application form is meant for those foreigners who are applying for visa from outside India
- Each online application form is meant for one person only. Separate application has to be filed for each applicant.
- Furnish information exactly in the manner asked for in the forms, especially the names, address and date of birth.
- Applicants are required to verify the application details before submitting the online application. They have an option to save the online application form, in case it is not to be submitted.
- Once the online application form is submitted by the applicant, then further modifications are not allowed. Hence applicants are requested to check and validate the details before submitting the online application form.
- Applicants are requested to keep the Application Id (generated automatically after the submission of online form) for further communications.
B. Appointment Scheduling
- Applicant can schedule the appointment as per his/ her convenience with the concerned Indian Mission.
- Each applicant to schedule a separate appointment with the Indian Mission.
C. Process for Filing up Online Application Form
- Applicant shall access the Visa Application system online through the following link: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in
- Applicant visits the above mentioned web link and selects the Indian Mission from where he intends to apply for the Visa from the tab Select Mission.
- Applicant fills the application on-line as per the forms standardized by the Ministry.
- After filling the form and submitting it, the system shall automatically generate an Application Id. Applicants are requested to keep this Application Id for further communications with the concerned Indian Mission.
- System will automatically ask the Applicant for the following confirmation: Select ‘Yes’ if the applicant want to seek appointment and make payment online or ‘No’ if the applicant just want to print the submitted application form.
- If the applicant response is ‘No’, then it is requested by the applicant to take the print out of the submitted online application form and approach the concerned Indian Mission for submission of the online form along with supporting documents.
- If the response from applicant is ‘Yes’ then the system automatically takes the link to perform the following:
- Selection of Date and Time of appointment at the concerned Indian Mission.
- Calculation of Visa fee, service charge, VAT etc. as applicable according to the Visa type
- ePayment*using service providers payment system.
- In case the facility of Appointment Scheduling and e-Payment is not available for the concerned Indian mission, then applicant has to take the printout of the online application form and visit the concerned Indian Mission to submit the same along with supporting documents and make the payment.
*The e-payment facility is not available for all the Indian Missions abroad. Wherever the said facility is not available, it is requested to kindly submit the application submission fees to either the out sourcing agency or to the Mission directly along with the supporting documents.
FRO/FRRO Registration
If the Employment visa is valid for a period of more than 180 days, the foreign national concerned should register with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival. In the case of Employment Visa issued for a period of 180 days or less, registration is not required with FRRO/FRO.
Extension of Employment Visa
The Employment visa may be extended by the FRRO / FRO concerned beyond the initial visa validity period, up to a total period of 5 years from the date of issue of the initial Employment Visa, on an year to year basis.