“Foreign Professionals to Get Easier Visas for Jobs in Indian Companies”

India Eases Visa Process for Foreign Professionals to Boost Manufacturing.

India has simplified its visa process to help domestic companies hire foreign professionals, including engineers and technical experts, for critical production-related work such as machine installation, quality checks, training, and plant design.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched a digital module on the National Single Window System (NSWS), allowing companies to generate sponsorship letters online under the e-Production Investment Business Visa, also called the e-B-4 Visa. This is aimed at reducing delays and streamlining approvals, which were previously time-consuming and complex.

The new system benefits both PLI scheme participants and other domestic firms. Foreign experts can now use these digital sponsorship letters to apply for e-visas and travel to India for assignments. Activities covered under the B-4 Visa include equipment installation and commissioning, quality assurance, production support, IT ramp-up, training, supply chain development, plant design, and executive visits for production investment projects.

The earlier e-PLI business visa has been discontinued. The revised process eliminates the need for line ministry recommendations, uses automatic data authentication via the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and GST Network, and generates a unique ID for each sponsorship letter to facilitate visa applications.

Officials said the reforms will reduce operational bottlenecks, accelerate industrial projects, and make it easier for companies to bring in the technical expertise they need.