India Introduces E-Production Investment E-Visa for Manufacturing Vendors

(INDIA) India has introduced a new E-Production Investment E-Visa, a dedicated electronic visa aimed at foreign nationals who need to travel to India for production-related activities tied to Indian manufacturing companies. The measure, which builds on India’s wider e-visa framework, is designed to support factory setup, equipment installation, and technology rollouts by letting overseas vendor staff and senior executives enter the country multiple times over a six‑month period.

Purpose and scope of the E-Production Investment E-Visa

Under the new policy, eligible foreign nationals can apply fully online for the E-Production Investment E-Visa and, once approved, travel to India for activities directly linked to industrial production and investment projects.

Officials frame the move as part of a broader effort to support manufacturing growth and foreign investment, especially where complex projects require repeated short visits from specialist teams and company leadership working closely with Indian partners.

Activities covered

The government guidance specifies a wide range of hands‑on production work covered by the visa, including:

• Installation and commissioning of machinery
• Quality checks and maintenance
• Production ramp‑up when a new line or plant starts operations
• IT and ERP implementation, including configuration of enterprise systems supporting manufacturing
• Training of Indian staff
• Supply chain development for empaneling vendors
• Plant design and startup
• Entry of senior management and executives from foreign vendors connected to Indian projects

Validity and entry rules

• Validity: Six months from issuance
• Entries: Multiple entries allowed during the validity period

This structure is particularly important for industries where staggered or phased visits are common (e.g., automotive, electronics, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy) and where different specialist teams visit at different project stages for short, time‑sensitive assignments.

How this differs from the Business e-Visa

India already offers a Business e-Visa. Key differences:

The government draws a clear line: the Business e-Visa is for broader corporate/commercial purposes, while the E-Production Investment E-Visa is tightly focused on production-related, on-site operational work.

Application process and portal

• The application is fully online, consistent with India’s e-visa system expanded since 2014.
• Applicants should use the official Indian e‑Visa platform: Government of India e-Visa portal.
• The portal already processes electronic visas for tourism, business, and medical purposes.

Authorities advise checking the portal for the latest eligibility rules, required documents, and fee schedules before submitting an application.

Processing times and planning

• Typical processing: 3 to 7 business days for nationals already eligible for India’s electronic visas.
• Processing for Chinese nationals may take longer, consistent with other e-visa category timelines.

Companies with tight rollouts are urged to allow extra lead time, especially when multiple team members from different countries must secure visas before project milestones.

Eligibility and documentation

• Eligibility aligns with the list of nationalities allowed to use India’s electronic visa system.
• Target applicants: foreign employees of vendors working with Indian production/manufacturing firms, plus senior managers/executives overseeing technical work.
• Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:
  • A clear link between their employer and an Indian manufacturing client
  • Detailed description of production-related activities planned for each visit
  • Supporting documents such as letters from Indian partner companies, project timelines, and role descriptions

Immigration lawyers emphasize the need to show the direct production link for each travel purpose.

Relationship with other visa types

• The new E-Production Investment E-Visa does not replace regular employment visas or long‑term project visas.
• Those visas remain necessary when foreign staff are hired on longer contracts or perform roles beyond periodic vendor visits.
• The new category fills a gap for short-term, repeated technical and managerial trips linked to production rollouts.

Economic context and strategic intent

The launch reflects India’s effort to simplify visa categories while promoting itself as a global manufacturing hub. By providing a dedicated route for E-Production Investment E-Visa holders, the government aims to reduce uncertainty vendors faced when assessing whether a general business visa sufficed for intensive, on-site factory work.

VisaVerge.com reports that multinational suppliers—especially those involved with large government and private industrial projects—have sought clearer visa options that match the demands of setting up and scaling production in India.

This visa is also intended to support programs like “Make in India” and production‑linked incentives by enabling quicker, repeated technical access for imported machinery and specialized software—factors that directly influence whether production lines start on schedule.

Delays in visas can translate into delays in output, missed contract deadlines, and higher project costs. The E-Production Investment E-Visa aims to reduce these risks by facilitating timely, repeated access for technical teams and executives.

Fees, conditions, and recordkeeping

• The government has not yet published a fixed fee schedule for all nationalities under this category.
• Officials indicate that visa fees and exact conditions may vary by country of citizenship and specific circumstances.
• Applicants must verify current fees and conditions at the time of filing and monitor official notices, as India has adjusted prices and stay rules in past e-visa categories.

Immigration professionals recommend companies maintain clear records linking each traveler’s visit to a specific production project or contract, such as:

• Letters from Indian partner companies
• Project timelines and milestones
• Role descriptions and task lists for each visitor

These documents help respond to border questions and demonstrate that activities align with the visa’s production-focused purpose.

Practical advice for companies and travelers

1. Check eligibility and detailed requirements on the official portal: Government of India e-Visa portal.
2. Allow extra lead time for visa processing—especially for teams coming from multiple countries.
3. Keep precise, project‑related documentation linking each visit to production tasks.
4. Consider whether the E-Production Investment E-Visa or an existing employment/long-term visa is the correct route, based on duration and nature of work.
5. Seek advice from qualified immigration advisers when in doubt.

Final notes

For foreign vendors and multinational manufacturers, the E-Production Investment E-Visa may lower administrative barriers that previously slowed early‑stage implementation. By offering a tailored, time‑bound visa with multiple-entry rights, India signals a desire to make it easier for technical teams and executives to support plant installation, testing, and ramp-up.

However, applicants and employers should still consult the official guidance on the government portal and, where necessary, obtain professional immigration advice to ensure correct and effective use of this new route.