Immigration
e-Visa for most visitors, employment visa needs a salary floor
India runs a broad e-Visa system for tourism and business. An employment visa requires a sponsoring Indian entity and, for most roles, an annual salary above a prescribed threshold, and OCI status offers near-permanent residence.
Key rules
- Deadline — FRRO registration within 14 days of arrival for stays exceeding 180 days
- Deadline — Visa extension applied for before expiry through the e-FRRO portal
Governing law
- Foreigners Act, 1946
- Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920
- Citizenship Act, 1955
- Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992
In practice
Employment visas are refused for roles considered fillable locally, and the salary floor (around USD 25,000 per year) excludes some categories such as language teachers and ethnic cooks. Business visas do not permit employment. OCI cardholders get lifelong visa-free entry and most residency rights but cannot buy agricultural land or vote. Registration through e-FRRO is a real compliance trap because the fourteen-day clock runs from arrival, not from the decision to stay.