While applying for a visa, two of the most important questions people have in mind are: how long might it take to get a visa? And how long will you be able to stay in that certain country?
Well, if you are visiting India for professional and commercial purposes, you must apply for a travel document. Keep on reading to find out all about India's business visa, including its duration and processing time.
India Visa Requirements For Business Purposes
All foreigners, including ordinary and official passport holders, are required to have a valid Indian visa to enter India. You have two different options. You can either apply for an electronic visa or get a traditional one.
Here's everything you need to know about both of these visa types:
India e-Business Visa - An Overview
If you are looking for a convenient way to get an Indian business visa, their e-visa is an ideal pick for you. No need to visit the Indian embassy or mission. You don't even have to follow complicated steps or schedule a visa interview. It is a fully streamlined process that can be done from the comfort of your home.
To get an e-visa, nationals of foreign countries are required to follow 4 simple steps:
Fill out the e-visa application form
Pay the visa processing fees
Submit required documents
Submit your visa application form
That's it! This entire process can be done within 10-15 minutes. On approval, you'll get your e-visa via email.
Required Documents
Unlike a traditional visa, you only need a handful of documents to get an e-visa. All you need is:
An original passport
A passport-type photograph
An email-address
Business invitation letter
A debit or credit card
Processing Time
Once you submit all of the above-mentioned documents, you'll need a few days. On average, the processing time for an Indian e-visa is 3-5 days. However, due to popularity and high demand, you may have to wait a little longer.
Validity Period
Indian business e-visa is a multiple-entry document that allows you to stay in the country for 180 days. This document comes with a validity period of 1 year. This means you can enter India using an e-visa multiple times within a year.
Indian E-Visa Eligibility Criteria
Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for an Indian e-visa. The country offers e-visa services to only ordinary passport holders. Following are the citizens who are not eligible for an Indian e-visa:
A passport holder with a criminal history
Official/diplomatic passport holders
International travel document holders
Laissez-passer travel document holders
Indian Business Visa - An Overview
If, for some reason, you are not eligible for an India e-visa, you can always apply for a traditional one. India offers different traditional visas for different purposes. You can get a tourist visa for tourism, a medical visa for medical treatment and business visa for business purposes.
Generally speaking, to apply for a traditional visa, you need to spend a good part of your day at the Indian embassy. You'll need to fill out the visa application form, submit documents, schedule an appointment, and much more. As there will be dozens of people applying for a visa, you might have to wait in line as well.
Fortunately, you can partner up with VisaHQ. With this approach, all you need to do is fill out an online application form and submit your documents. We will do all the work: from applying for your visa to scheduling a visa interview with the Indian consulate officer.
Required Documents
If you are applying for a traditional business visa, you need several documents, including:
An original passport with at 2 blank visa pages
Photograph
Business letter
Business invitation letter
Certificate of incorporation
Health declaration form
Authorization letter
Without a health declaration form, travelers will be denied boarding. Moreover, it is recommended to get a covid-19 vaccination certificate beforehand to avoid self-isolation. Former Indian nationals are required to have an Indian passport as well.
Processing Time
The processing time for a traditional business visa varies for citizens of different countries. While some citizens can their travel documents within 10 days, others might have to wait for at least 15 working days.
Validity Period
When it comes to business visas, India offers both single-entry visas and multiple-entry visas. Unfortunately, not all nationality holders can get a single-entry visa. For instance, if you have us passport, you cannot apply for a single-entry visa. Alternatively, if you have a UK passport, you are eligible for a single-entry valid visa as well.
Generally speaking, the Indian business visa comes with a validity of 1 or 5 years, depending on your nationality. It allows a holder to stay in the country for 90 or 180 days. It is recommended to check the visa requirements for your country to find a more accurate answer!