(INDIA) — Amazon is temporarily allowing a narrow group of U.S.-bound employees stuck in India by visa backlogs to work remotely until March 2, 2026, spotlighting a bigger issue for digital nomads: India is an incredible base, but it still lacks a true “digital nomad visa” and the compliance rules can bite fast.
The immediate news is corporate policy. The wider takeaway is country strategy. If your U.S. work plan depends on an H-1B stamp or a consular interview, India can turn into an unplanned “remote hub” overnight. And if your employer doesn’t ring-fence duties, the risk shifts from immigration to taxes and labor exposure.
🌍 Visa Highlight: India does not offer a dedicated digital nomad visa in 2026. Most remote workers use tourist e-Visas (no work rights) or longer-term options like Entry (X) visas, Employment visas, or OCI (for eligible people).
What’s happening: the Amazon memo and “Temporary Remote Work Authorization”
An internal Amazon memo posted December 17, 2025 created a Temporary Remote Work Authorization for employees who:
- Were physically in India on or before December 13, 2025, and
- Are waiting for a rescheduled U.S. visa appointment, and
- Need an interim arrangement due to consular backlogs and added vetting.
The authorization runs through March 2, 2026 and is unusually strict. Employees may not do work that meaningfully advances the business in India. That means no customer contact, no contract execution, and — most notably for tech roles — no coding.
These restrictions are aimed at reducing the chance the company creates Indian employment obligations or a taxable corporate presence. For remote workers, it’s a real-world example of what “cross-border remote work compliance” looks like when lawyers get involved.
⚠️ Tax Warning: If you spend enough time in India, you can trigger Indian tax residency even if your paycheck comes from the U.S. Your employer can also worry about “permanent establishment” risk.
India for digital nomads in 2026: lifestyle vs legal reality
India remains one of the world’s best “high-value” countries for remote life. Benefits include:
- Huge domestic flight network and trains
- Strong café culture in major cities
- Deep coworking scenes in Bengaluru, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Pune
- A time zone that works well for Europe and is manageable for U.S. overlap
But “digital nomad” and “legal work permission” are not the same thing. India’s mainstream visitor routes don’t grant work rights for foreign employers. That doesn’t stop people from coming — it changes your risk profile.
Country profile: India (remote work reality check)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa Name | No official digital nomad visa (common routes: Tourist e-Visa, Entry (X), Employment, Business, OCI) |
| Duration | Tourist e-Visa commonly 30 days / 1 year / 5 years (conditions vary). Long-stay options depend on category. |
| Income Requirement | No formal nomad income threshold. For long-stay visas, expect proof of funds. Practical minimum for comfortable nomad life: ₹150,000–₹250,000/month (~$1,800–$3,000) in major hubs. |
| Proof of Income | Bank statements, payslips, contracts, and sometimes tax returns. Requirements vary by visa and consulate. |
| Health Insurance | Strongly recommended. Some visa/FRRO situations may request proof. Plan ₹3,000–₹12,000/month (~$35–$145) depending on age and coverage. |
| Processing Time | Tourist e-Visa often days, but delays happen. Long-stay visas and FRRO steps can take weeks. |
| Application Fee | Varies by nationality and visa type. Expect a range from ~$25 to $150+ for e-Visas in many cases. |
| Tax Status | Not a nomad-tax program. Potential Indian tax residency if you stay long enough. |
| Path to Residency | Possible through employment, family, or long-term status (e.g., OCI). Not a simple “nomad to PR” route. |
| Internet Speed | Major cities often 50–200 Mbps at home and coworking. Mobile data is cheap and fast in urban areas. Outages still happen. |
| Time Zone | UTC +5:30 (IST) |
| Cost of Living | Comfortable nomad range: ₹120,000–₹220,000/month (~$1,450–$2,650) depending on city and lifestyle. |
📶 Internet Note: India’s best setup is “dual internet.” Get home fiber plus a strong 5G/4G hotspot backup.
Visa options that nomads actually use (and what to watch)
India isn’t plug-and-play like Portugal or Croatia. Still, these are the common paths and key cautions.
1) Tourist e-Visa (most common for short stays)
- Best for: 30–90 day stints in Goa, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bengaluru.
- Reality: Many remote workers answer emails and take calls anyway.
- Risk: Tourist status usually doesn’t grant work authorization.
2) Entry (X) visa (case-specific)
- Best for: People with qualifying family links or other eligible grounds.
- Can allow longer stays than tourist routes.
- Rules vary by case and local registration requirements.
3) Employment visa (for India-based employment)
- Best for: People on Indian payroll or with a formal India employment arrangement.
- Not designed for foreign employer remote work.
- Involves more compliance and paperwork.
4) OCI (Overseas Citizen of India)
- Best for: People eligible through Indian origin rules.
- Often the cleanest long-term lifestyle option if you qualify.
If you’re a U.S.-based worker caught in visa timing issues, being physically in India and being allowed to work from India are separate questions. Amazon’s Temporary Remote Work Authorization is a corporate patch, not immigration permission.
Step-by-step: setting up a legal, low-drama remote stint in India
This is the playbook used when planning India stays without surprises.
Step 1: Choose your city based on work needs
- Bengaluru: Best coworking density and tech ecosystem.
- Mumbai: Best for finance, premium living, and flights.
- Delhi NCR: Good international access and big nomad pockets in Gurgaon.
- Hyderabad / Pune: Great value and calmer pace.
- Goa: Lifestyle king, but power and internet reliability vary by neighborhood.
Step 2: Pick the shortest visa that matches your plan
If you’re in temporary limbo (like consular delays), avoid locking into long stays without tax planning.
Step 3: Prepare documents before you fly
Keep digital and printed copies of:
– Passport (6+ months validity)
– Visa approval/ETA (if e-Visa)
– Proof of onward travel
– Proof of funds (recent statements)
– Proof of accommodation for the first week
– Travel insurance policy
Step 4: Build a “compliance-friendly” work plan
If your employer is sensitive to India exposure, agree in writing on:
– What tasks you will do (and won’t do)
– Approval chain outside India
– No contract signing while in India
– No customer-facing work if legal flags exist
– Device security and data controls
Step 5: Set up connectivity like a pro
- Home fiber in cities: usually quick to install in serviced apartments
- Backup SIM from a major carrier
- Power backup if you’re in Goa or older buildings
Do a practical two-week pilot stay in India to check power reliability, internet speed, noise levels, and coworking options before signing a long lease or committing to a lengthy visa.
Step 6: Track your days
If you might approach India’s residency thresholds, use a simple day-count system (a spreadsheet is sufficient).
⏰ Time Zone: IST overlaps well with Europe. For U.S. teams, plan calls for 8–11am PT or 10pm–1am IST rotations.
Pros and cons for digital nomads
The pros
- Value: Big-city comfort can cost half of Western Europe.
- Food: Endless variety, strong delivery apps, great vegetarian options.
- Community: Coworking events, founder circles, and active WhatsApp groups.
- Travel: Mountains, beaches, deserts, and mega-cities in one country.
The cons
- No true digital nomad visa: You’re often fitting into categories not built for remote work.
- Tax uncertainty: Long stays can create residency issues.
- Bureaucracy: Rules can change and enforcement varies by region.
- Infrastructure variance: Two neighborhoods apart can feel like different countries.
Cost of living: Bengaluru (baseline) and Goa (wildcard)
Goa can be cheaper on paper, then spike hard in peak season. Premium beachfront rentals can match Dubai pricing in December and January.
COST OF LIVING BREAKDOWN (Bengaluru)
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | ₹35,000 ($420) | ₹65,000 ($780) | ₹120,000 ($1,440) |
| Coworking | ₹6,000 ($72) | ₹12,000 ($145) | ₹25,000 ($300) |
| Food | ₹18,000 ($215) | ₹35,000 ($420) | ₹60,000 ($720) |
| Transport | ₹5,000 ($60) | ₹10,000 ($120) | ₹20,000 ($240) |
| Health Insurance | ₹3,500 ($42) | ₹7,000 ($84) | ₹12,000 ($145) |
| Entertainment | ₹7,000 ($84) | ₹15,000 ($180) | ₹35,000 ($420) |
| Total | ₹74,500 ($893) | ₹144,000 ($1,729) | ₹272,000 ($3,265) |
💰 Budget Tip: In India, the biggest savings come from picking the right neighborhood. Rent swings more than food or transport.
Tax implications (India + U.S. ties + H-1B reality)
⚠️ Tax Disclaimer: Tax obligations for digital nomads are complex and depend on your citizenship, tax residency, and the countries involved. This article provides general information only. Consult a qualified international tax professional before making decisions that affect your tax status.
1) India tax residency risk
India commonly uses day-count tests for tax residency. Many remote workers accidentally become residents after extended stays. Once you cross into residency, your reporting scope can widen.
Be aware that long stays can trigger Indian tax residency and corporate presence risks for your employer. Track your days in India and consult a tax pro to avoid unexpected liabilities.
If you are in India due to U.S. visa delays, track:
– Days in India in the relevant tax year
– Whether you qualify for treaty positions (if applicable)
– Whether you have Indian-source income
2) U.S. citizens still have U.S. tax filing
U.S. citizens typically file U.S. taxes on worldwide income even when abroad. Credits and exclusions may help, but paperwork matters.
3) Employer compliance: why Amazon limited work
Amazon’s restrictions read like a checklist designed to reduce:
– Indian labor law obligations
– Corporate tax presence concerns
– Contract and customer exposure in-country
For remote workers at multinationals, the operational lesson is clear: managers may approve India work, but legal teams will substantially restrict scope.
4) Treaty paperwork and documentation
To avoid double taxation you’ll often need clean documentation: residency certificates, specific treaty forms, and consistent day-count records, depending on the countries involved.
Practical tips from the nomad community (India edition)
- Do a two-week test stay before signing a long lease. Noise and power stability vary a lot.
- Choose coworking near home. Traffic can wreck your day more than any visa issue.
- Keep your work scope simple if your company is sensitive. Internal work beats external commitments.
- Use two bank cards and keep one as a backup. Payment failures happen.
- Plan around heat and monsoon. April–June can be brutal in many cities.
Next steps (do this in the next 7–21 days)
- This week: Check the official Indian immigration website and your local Indian consulate guidance for the latest e-Visa rules for your nationality.
- Within 7 days: If your situation resembles the Amazon memo scenario, get a written work-scope note from HR. Keep it in your travel folder.
- Within 14 days: Build a day-count tracker for India and any other country you’ll transit. Add your U.S. visa appointment timeline.
- Within 21 days: Book housing with backup internet, then buy a local SIM on arrival. Aim for fiber plus hotspot.
- Before day 60–90 in India: Speak with an international tax professional about India residency risk, U.S. filings, and treaty positions. Also confirm your employer’s compliance stance.
Within a week, verify current e‑Visa rules for your nationality on official sites and secure a written work-scope note from HR if your role might fall under temporary remote work terms.
Community resources that help in real time: Nomad List for city costs and coworking density, local WhatsApp/Telegram nomad groups in Bengaluru and Goa, and expat forums that track visa processing trends.
Amazon’s new policy highlights the compliance challenges for U.S. workers stuck in India. Without an official digital nomad visa, remote workers must use tourist or entry visas, which often lack formal work rights. Staying in India long-term can trigger tax residency, while employers must restrict work scopes to avoid corporate tax presence. Managing these legal and fiscal risks is essential for a successful remote stint in India.
