About Us Business Visa

Business (B) Visa

A Business Visa is given for conducting business with an Indian company or agency, to set up industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture in India or to buy/sell industrial/commercial products.

Validity: As part of liberalisation, simplification and rationalisation of visa regime in India, Business Visas are issued with 5 years duration as a default option with 180 days validity in each visit. However, on the basis of a specific request for requirement of a shorter period, a short validity visa can be issued to the applicant. If the applicant intends to stay for more than 180 days, registration is mandatory with respective Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)/Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) in India. Please note the validity of the visa is effective from the date of issue. 

The following categories of applicants are eligible for Business visa:

  • Foreign nationals who want to visit India to establish industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture in India;

  • Foreign nationals going to India to purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables;

  • Foreign nationals going to India for technical meetings/discussions, attending Board meetings, general meetings for providing business services support;

  • Foreign nationals going to India for recruitment of manpower;

  • Foreign nationals who are partners in the Business and/or functioning as Directors in the company;

  • Foreign nationals going to India for consultations regarding exhibitions, for participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, business fairs etc.;

  • Foreign buyers going to transact business with suppliers/potential suppliers at locations in India, to evaluate or monitor quality, give specifications, place orders, negotiate further supplies etc. relating to goods or services procured from India;

  • Foreign experts/specialists on a visit of short duration in connection with an ongoing project with the objective of monitoring the progress of the work, conducting meetings with Indian customers and/or to provide some high level technical guidance;

  • Foreign nationals going to India for pre-sales or post-sales activity not amounting to actual execution of any contract or project;

  • Foreign Trainees of multinational companies/corporate houses going for in-house training in the regional hubs of the concerned company located in India;

  • Foreign nationals going as tour conductors and travel agents and/or conducting business tours of foreigners or business relating to it, etc.;

  • Crew of non-scheduled airlines and chartered flights operated by them. Business visa is not granted for petty business/trade or money lending or full time employment. 

Those who are applying to work for an Indian company should apply for an Employment Visa.

Requirements

  1. A letter on the letterhead of the Dutch company providing proof of expertise in the field of intended business must be produced. This may also be in form of evidence of business dealing with Indian companies or businessmen.

  2. Copies of license/ Certificate of Registration of Dutch company to be provided.

  3. The applicant should, where required, accept liability to comply with Indian tax regulations. In case of foreigners holding positions like Directors/ Managing Directors etc. in Indian companies, copy of Director Identification Number (DIN) number allotted by Indian authorities should be provided.

  4. Special requirements may apply for crew of non-scheduled airlines and chartered flights operated by them.

Please Note : Business Visa applicants, who have not ordinarily been resident of Netherlands for at least last two years, may be required to attend a personal meeting with the Consular staff at the Embassy. As proof of ordinarily residing in the Netherlands, applicants are required to provide an Uittreksel from the respective Gemeente showing period of residence since registering in the Gemeente.

Time Taken

Generally within 3-4 days (for Dutch nationals) except if going to areas for which Restricted Area Permit or Protected Area Permit is required, or if applicant belongs to Nigeria, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Stateless persons holding travel documents or is of Pakistani origin.

Note : For further procedural details, visit website of service provider www.vfsglobal.com/india/netherlands. In case of any discrepancy between this website and the website of the service provider or any Government of India website, please bring the same to the attention of the Embassy at e-mail: [email protected].