Indian e-Business Visa: Complete Guide, Validity, Fees & Application

The e-Business Visa is a multiple-entry electronic authorization valid for one year from the date of grant. It is intended for individuals engaging in commercial activities on behalf of a foreign entity or exploring business opportunities in India.

Business professionals attending meetings, technical consultants providing guidance, and participants in exhibitions should apply. It is NOT for those seeking employment in India, engaging in non-government organization (NGO) work, or those intending to reside long-term. Individuals seeking to work as employees for an Indian firm require a regular 'Employment' visa.

The e-Business visa is typically granted for 365 days with multiple entries. A continuous stay during each visit is permitted for up to 180 days. If the intention is to stay longer than 180 days in a single visit, registration with the local FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) is required.

Applicants must provide a passport scan, a digital photo, and a digital scan of their business card (in English). A formal invitation letter from the Indian company or organization is mandatory, detailing the purpose and duration of the visit.

1. Select the e-Business category on the portal. 2. Enter personal and passport data. 3. Provide details of the inviting Indian company. 4. Upload the passport bio-page, photo, and business card scan. 5. Upload the invitation letter. 6. Submit and pay the combined government and service fees. 7. Receive the approved ETA via email.

Most applications are processed within 24 to 72 hours, though allow 3 to 4 business days if your travel is close. The government fee for the e-Business Visa is US$120 for most nationalities, plus a 3% bank charge. Several countries differ sharply: US citizens pay $140, Irish and Thai nationals $200, Australians and Saudis $215, Filipinos $220, Ecuadorians $240, and UAE nationals $415 — the highest of any nationality. Japanese passport holders pay $25 and Sri Lankans $80, and around twenty nationalities pay nothing at all. Check your exact rate with the [fee calculator](/tools/india-visa-fee-calculator) or the [full table by nationality](/guide/india-visa-by-nationality).

Most industrialized nations are eligible, including: • Europe: [United Kingdom](/country/india-evisa-for-uk-citizens), [Germany](/country/india-evisa-for-german-citizens), [Italy](/country/india-evisa-for-italian-citizens) • Americas: [United States](/country/india-evisa-for-us-citizens), [Canada](/country/india-evisa-for-canadian-citizens), [Mexico](/country/india-evisa-for-mexicans) • Asia-Pacific: Singapore, [Australia](/country/india-evisa-for-australian-citizens), [Japan](/country/india-evisa-for-japanese-citizens)

The e-Business Visa is issued online and linked electronically to your passport — no embassy appointment, no physical stamp. It gives a one-year, multiple-entry authorisation with stays of up to 180 days per visit, covering meetings, trade fairs, technical consultation, recruitment and exploring business opportunities. A regular sticker business visa is issued by an Indian mission, can run longer than a year, and is the right route if you need a pattern of stay the e-Visa does not allow — or if your nationality is not on the e-Visa list. Chinese, Hong Kong, Macau and Pakistani passport holders fall into that category and must use the mission route regardless of purpose.

Permitted: attending meetings and conferences, negotiating or signing contracts, trade fairs and exhibitions, technical or expert consultation, recruitment, and evaluating suppliers or business opportunities. Not permitted: taking employment with an Indian company, drawing a salary from an Indian source, journalism or filming assignments, NGO or missionary work, or any paid work for an entity in India. Employment requires a separate Employment Visa. Using a business e-Visa for work is a serious problem that usually surfaces at the border rather than at the application stage.

The occupation you enter must match the documents you upload and the stated purpose of the trip. A generic or aspirational job title, or one that conflicts with your invitation letter or business card, is among the most frequent triggers for additional scrutiny. If you are self-employed, state that plainly rather than inventing a corporate title. If you are a director or partner, say so. Retired applicants should enter Retired and provide supporting financial evidence. Mismatches between this field and the invitation letter are checked as a matter of routine.

A business e-Visa is valid for entry at designated airports and seaports only — it cannot be used at a land border. Carry a printed copy of the approved e-Visa with your passport; although the authorisation is electronic, immigration officers commonly ask to see the printout. On arrival your biometrics are captured and a physical stamp is placed in your passport. Permitted stay is counted from the date of entry, not the date the visa was granted.

If the purpose of the trip is commercial in any form, apply in the business category even for a short visit. Attending a single meeting on a tourist e-Visa is a misdeclaration, and the tourist category explicitly excludes business activity. The difference matters at the border: officers ask why you are visiting, and an answer that does not match your visa category is where problems start. The tourist e-Visa is cheaper, but choosing it for a business trip risks refusal of entry — which no fee saving justifies.

Rejections in this category often stem from providing a business card that is not in English, or an invitation letter that lacks a signature or official stamp. Discrepancies between the business card details and the application form can also lead to queries.