Why this guide
Travelers heading to India for work often default to the e-Tourist Visa without realizing a separate business e-Visa category exists: with different rules around stay duration, registration, and what activities it actually permits. This page explains the distinction. Independent guide, not affiliated with the Government of India.
What counts as business travel
- Attending business meetings, trade fairs, or exhibitions
- Short technical or business visits on behalf of an employer
- Activities a regular Business Visa would otherwise cover
- It does not cover taking up employment with or being paid directly by an Indian entity: that requires a different visa category entirely
How it differs from the e-Tourist Visa
- The allowed continuous stay per visit can run longer than the tourist e-Visa's cap, depending on nationality
- It runs on a separate fee schedule from the tourist e-Visa: see our fees guide for how the fee structure works generally
- Stays beyond a certain length may require registration with the local FRRO/FRO
Exact per-visit stay limits, registration thresholds, and fees are set by the government and vary by nationality. This page describes the structure of the business e-Visa, not exact numbers: confirm specifics for your nationality on indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Applying
- Apply through the same official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, selecting the business e-Visa category
- You'll need business-purpose details: the inviting company or organization, and the nature of your visit: in addition to the standard passport and photo requirements
- Apply with the same buffer before travel as you would for a tourist e-Visa: see our processing-time guide