Before you start your journey to another country, including India, the most important thing you need is a visa. India offers different types of visas for different purposes, including tourist visa, entry visa, conference visa, medical visa, and much more.
For professional and commercial activities, India offers a business visa. In this article, we have mentioned everything you need to know about visiting the country for business purposes.
So, without further ado, let's get into it!
Business Visa Requirements for UK citizens
All UK citizens, including ordinary, diplomatic, and official passport holders, are required to have a business visa to enter India. Unfortunately, the country does not provide India business e-visa for UK nationals. So, you must obtain a traditional visa prior to visiting the country.
In another word, you need to visit the Indian embassy to get a business visa. However, you can partner up with VisaHQ to get your Indian business visa online. We will do all the work and schedule an appointment for you!
The country offers two types of Indian business visas for UK citizens, such as:
Single Entry Visa - This one comes with a validity period of 1 year. However, you can only enter India once using a single-entry business visa.
Multiple-Entry Visa - If you think you'll be traveling to India more than once, you should get a multiple-entry business visa. This one allows you to stay in the country for 180 days and comes with a validity period of 1 year.
Documents Required to Get an Indian Business Visa
Before you apply for an Indian visa, you need to fulfill some visa requirements. Here are some of the important documents that you need to submit to get your visa:
UK Passport
The most important thing UK citizens need to apply for an India visa is their original passport. You will need to submit your original, signed passport to apply for a visa. For this approach, make sure the applicant's passport has at least 6 months of remaining validity.
Business Letter
You also need a business letter from a UK-based company. Your business letter must have:
A brief introduction of the applicant
Proof of status
Desired validity and type of your visa
Business Invitation letter
Furthermore, you need a business invitation letter from the sponsoring company located in India. The invitation letter must be signed by a senior manager of the company, addressed directly to the "Indian High Commission in London," and printed on the company letterhead stationery.
A business invitation letter must have:
A brief introduction of the applicant
Desired validity and type of visa
Name and address of the sponsoring company
Status of the business
Health Declaration form
Without a health declaration form, travelers will be denied boarding. Fortunately, you can get this form online. All you need to do is visit VisaHQ and fill out the health declaration form. The whole procedure will take just 5 minutes.
Certificate of Incorporation
Moreover, you'll also need to provide the certificate of incorporation of the sponsoring company in India. A certificate of incorporation is a license relating to the formation of a corporation or company. You'll need to submit this document as well while applying for a valid visa.
Other Required Documents
Besides these, there are some additional documents you need to visit India, including:
Passport-Type Photograph
Authorization Letter
Letter from parent sponsoring UK organization
Letter from the Indian company indicating the nature of business
At least 2 years of residence proof
If an applicant wants to get a long-term visa for business purposes, he/she will need to provide the following information:
Full name
Purpose of visit
Passport number
Passport expiry date
email address
credit or debit card
Desired duration of stay in the country
Invitation letter on the sponsoring company's headed paper
How to Apply for an India Business Visa?
Once you get all the above-mentioned documents, you can apply for an Indian business visa. Your best bet is partnering up with VisaHQ. All you need to do is submit the required documents to VisaHQ. Afterward, we will do all the work. You need to follow 4 simple steps:
Fill out the visa application form
Pay the visa processing fee
Submit your required documents
Submit your visa application form
Keep in mind that all letters must be addressed to the Indian High Commission in London. Moreover, British passport holders cannot convert a business visa to an Indian business e-visa or e-tourist visa.
We will schedule an appointment with Indian official for an interview. On approval, you'll be able to get your business visa via email. On average, the processing time for an Indian business visa is around 3-5 business days.
The Indian Embassy in the UK
India House, Aldwych, London
United Kingdom