Aiming to ease business operations, India streamlines e-visas for foreign engineers and specialists, enabling faster entry for manufacturing support, training, installation and plant operations.
The government has simplified and digitised the process for Indian companies to secure e-visas for foreign professionals, including engineers and technical specialists. The move is aimed at easing the entry of experts needed for machine installation, quality testing, training and plant design in domestic manufacturing units.
According to a report by The Indian Express, officials said the change is expected to particularly help firms importing machinery from countries such as China, where visa delays had earlier caused concern.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) announced the launch of an online module that allows companies to generate sponsorship letters directly. These letters will support applications under the newly created e-Production Investment Business Visa, known as the e-B-4 visa.
The platform went live on 29 November and forms part of wider reforms to improve the business visa framework and ease of doing business in India. Authorities said the earlier process was lengthy and complex. The new digital system is designed to reduce wait times and expedite the approval cycle.
So far, Indian firms have already generated 129 sponsorship letters through the portal. Once issued, foreign professionals can use these letters to apply for their visas and travel to India to support manufacturing operations.
The revised framework is based on an August 2025 circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Activities such as installation, commissioning, maintenance and essential production support, previously categorised under employment visas, have now been moved to the business visa regime. A dedicated production investment visa category has also been introduced for technical experts, senior executives and subject specialists.
DPIIT said the new system eliminates the need for recommendations from line ministries. Data authentication is now automated through existing government databases. A unique ID will be issued with each sponsorship letter and used during the visa application process, ensuring a more streamlined and faster approval process.
