Thousands of Australian passport holders travel to India each year for business and pleasure. India has everything you need on your business trip, from 5-star hotels to gorgeous landscapes. But the real question is, how can you enter India for business purposes?
Well, all foreigners, including Australian citizens, are required to have a travel document to enter India, even for commercial activities. In this article, we have provided all the information Australian nationals need to visit the country.
India Business Visa Options
India offers different types of visas for different purposes. If you are visiting India for tourism, you can apply for a tourist visa or get an visit visa. For professional and commercial activities, Australian citizens can apply for an e-visa or a traditional one.
E-Business Visa
If you are looking for convenience, the India business e-visa is a perfect pick for you. The e-visa comes with a validity period of one year and allows an Australian citizen to stay in the country for 180 days. It is a multiple-entry travel document that you can use to enter the country multiple times.
The best thing about an e-visa is that you don’t need to visit the Indian embassy. It is a completely streamlined process that can be done from the comfort of your home. India offers business e-visa to Australian citizens, including ordinary passport holders.
Following are the citizens not eligible for a business e-visa:
International travel document holders
Laissez-passer travel document holders
Official/diplomatic passport holders
Citizens with a criminal history
Traditional Business Visa
If you are not eligible for an Indian e-visa, you can apply for a traditional "stamp" or "sticker" visa. India offers different types of traditional visas for business purposes, including:
Multiple entry visa with a validity period of 180 days
Multiple entry visa with a validity period of 1 year
Unlike an e-visa, you'll need to visit the Indian embassy to apply for a traditional Indian visa. Fortunately, you can partner up with VisaHQ to submit your visa application form.
How to Apply for an Indian Business e-Visa
If you are eligible for an e-visa, you should definitely apply for it. Applying for an Indian business e-visa is a straightforward process. All you need to do is:
Fill out the visa application form online
Pay the visa processing fees using a secure online payment option
Submit your application
You can complete this entire process within 10 minutes. To fill out the application form, you are required to provide personal details, contact details, and passport details, including:
Full name
Passport number
Passport expiry date
Date of birth
Mobile phone
Email address
On approval, you'll get your e-visa via email. So, make sure your provided email is correct and active.
Required Documents
You don’t have to carry all your original documents with you. All you need is a handful of documents to apply for an e-visa, such as:
An original passport
An email address
A debit card or credit card
Your business card
Passport-type photograph
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Moreover, make sure it has 2 remaining blank pages upon arrival in India. If not, you'll have to apply for a new passport beforehand.
Processing Time
Once you submit all your information, your application will be processed. On average, you'll get your e-visa within 3-5 working days. However, due to high demand and secondary checks, you might have to wait a little longer.
Getting an Indian Traditional Visa for Business Purposes
If, for some reason, you are not eligible for an e-visa, you can always apply for an Indian business visa. Unlike an e-visa, you'll need to visit the Indian embassy to apply for a traditional visa.
Alternatively, you can partner up with VisaHQ - the Indian Visa Services Centre. We will do all the work. All you need to do is fill out the application form, and we will submit your application for you. Afterward, we will even schedule an appointment for your visa interview with an Indian consular officer.
Indian Embassy in Australia
As long as you are getting an e-visa for your professional or business trips, you don’t need to visit the Indian embassy. The government of India allows Australian nationals to apply for an e-visa online.
However, not everyone is eligible for an e-visa. If that's the case with you, you can get a traditional visa to enter India. To get a traditional India visa, you'll need to visit the nearest Indian mission and attend your visa interview.
The Indian Embassy Address
3-5 Moonah Pl, Yarralumla ACT 2600,
Australia