Complete summary of Indian employment/business visas — Employment·Business·X visa and FRRO registration practice

In India, visa categories are closely divided by purpose.In principle, mutual substitution between categories is not possible.do. Coming in on a tourist visa to provide consulting or coming in on a business visa and working for a salary can all be considered illegal. A summary of the representative categories that expatriates and their families face is as follows.

The unions where expatriate families meet for practical purposes are generallyHead of household = Employment Visa, Spouse/Children =no see. When the head office repeatedly sends short-term dispatches for specific projects, Business Visa multiple entry is sometimes used, but even in this case, 'where and how the salary is paid' is the key decision criterion. If there is any uncertainty during the category selection stage, it is best to consult with the company's human resources team or local legal advisor in advance.

Employment VisaA foreigner who is officially employed by an Indian corporation or dispatched from the headquarters to work for a salary.This visa is issued to people. To be 'employed and physically working' in India, you must obtain this visa and it cannot be replaced by any other visa.

basic conditions

• in the Indian labor marketExpertise that is difficult to replaceThese recognized positions include executives, technical professionals, project leaders, etc.
• An Indian corporation becomes the inviting entity and officiallyenter into an employment contract
• Indian government issues foreign work visasMinimum annual salary (generally known as USD 25,000 or more)There is. However, some categories such as language teachers, translators, and ethnic chefs are treated as exceptions, and the accurate and up-to-date standards and conversion methods must be checked on the Indian government's official visa portal immediately before application.

Validity period and multiple entry

In principle, Employment Visa is issued according to the contract period.Multiple entry for up to 5 yearsIt is generally granted as . If the contract is shorter than 5 years, it will be issued for a period not exceeding the contract period, and extensions can be processed through e-FRRO within India.

Required documents

• Original Offer Letter or Employment Contract — Position, salary, and contract period must be specified.
• India Corporation Invitation Letter —Signature of Indian authorized person and company seal on Indian corporate letterheadessential
• Degree certificate/experience certificate (Apostille if necessary)
• Passport — remaining validity period6 months or more, 2 or more blank pages
• Indian corporation registration documents — COI (Certificate of Incorporation), GST registration certificate

Employment Visa holdersChecklist for your first 30 days in IndiaAs introduced inRegister FRRO within 14 days of entering the countryThis is absolutely necessary. If you exceed this deadline, you will be charged a fine and your other procedures, such as your bank account and your child's school, will be affected, so it is best to prioritize processing within the first week of arrival.

Business VisaThe purpose of the visit to India is limited to business activities.This is a valid visa. This includes consulting/contract negotiations, market research, exhibition participation, product procurement/sales meetings, and conference/seminar attendance.

Biggest Principle — No Salary in India

Business Visa holdersYou cannot receive salary from an Indian corporation.The moment you actually work continuously in India for pay, that activity becomes subject to an Employment Visa and illegal under a Business Visa. There are still cases where people say, 'It's a short deployment, so let's handle it with a business visa,' but then it becomes a problem in tax and immigration audits, so you must organize who will pay the salary in advance.

Validity period and stay limit

• Issuance period: 5 years Multiple entry is common, depending on nationality and historyUp to 10 yearsIn some cases, up to
• One-time stay limit: NormalWithin 180 days per visitis the default, and depending on the issuance type and nationality, a shorter limit such as 60 days may apply — Be sure to check the stay conditions on the issued visa sticker
• If one stay exceeds 180 days, FRRO registration is required.

Required documents

• Proof of employment and confirmation of dispatch/business trip from Korea (dispatch source) company
• Registration documents (COI, GST, etc.) of the Indian company invited and an invitation letter issued by the Indian corporation
• Proof of business relationship between the two companies - contracts, purchase orders, quotations, past transaction history, etc.
• Proof of finances (bank balance proof, tax return, etc. if necessary)

Business Visa is a category that is prone to abuse because it ‘appears flexible’, but India has been strengthening its screening and follow-up audits in recent years. The form of dispatchSalary in India, workplace in India, permanent work in IndiaIf any of these apply to you, please consider converting to an Employment Visa first.

X Visa (Entry Visa)Spouses and minor children of main visa holders, such as Employment·Business·Research, etc.This visa is issued to allow a person to stay in India together. It is also issued to Indian foreigners (former Indian nationals, etc.) or individual visitors with special reasons, and is the most familiar category to family members of expatriates.

Permitted and Prohibited Activities

• allowance:Residence in India, child's registration and attendance at school (international school, local school), general daily life activities
• prohibition:Paid employment, commercial activities for business purposes — if you want to work full-time in India, you must separately convert to an Employment Visa.

expiration period

In principle, X VisaLinked to the visa period of the main visa holderand is issued. In other words, if your spouse's Employment Visa is for 3 years, the X Visa will also be renewed for 3 years and when renewed. If a couple does not each receive a work visa, but only one works, the other partner and their children will be accompanied by an X Visa.

Key points of preparation documents – Proof of relationship and Apostille

• Copy of main visa holder's passport, visa, employment/business-related documents
• Family relationship certificate, marriage relationship certificate(Issued in English, in most casesApostilleconfirmation required)
• childrenbirth certificate(English, Apostille)
• Your passport and passport photo (white background)
• Proof of residence in India — tenancy agreement or Form C for state visa holders

Apostille is a mustIssued in advance before taking office in KoreaIt is most certain to be accepted. It takes a long time to process through the embassy or Ministry of Foreign Affairs channels in India, and you may have to go back and forth several times to return documents, which causes delays in your child's school registration schedule.

All long-term foreignersForeigners Regional Registration Office under the jurisdiction of residence in India (FRRO: Foreigners Regional Registration Office)You must register with . Now there is no need to visit the office in person.e-FRRO Portal (indianfrro.gov.in)Online application through .

FRRO registration rules by visa category

Common documents

• Original/copy of passport and visa (page including entry stamp)
• white background passport photo
• Form C— Whether it’s a rental or a hotel.Issued/uploaded by accommodation providerOnline residency verification required. Afterwards, it is recycled as proof of address for all procedures such as SIM card and banking.
• Employment Visa: Employment contract, proof of employment at an Indian corporation, COI·GST, contact person PAN·Aadhaar
• X Visa: 주 비자 소지자 서류, 관계 증빙(가족관계·혼인관계 아포스티유)

Due to the nature of e-FRRO, an Indian government portal,PDF upload size is usually less than 1MBSince errors are frequent due to limitations, it is recommended to compress the documents in advance. This practical tip isChecklist for the first 30 days of settlementThis is also emphasized. If FRRO registration is delayed, bank account opening, UPI activation, and child school registration will all be pushed back like dominoes, so we recommend that you make it your top priority in the first week of your new job.

If you want to continue working or living in India, you must renew your visa before it expires. In principleEmployment Visa and X Visa can be extended within India via e-FRROIt can be done, and because domestic extensions of the Business Visa are limited, it is often reissued by embassies abroad.

When to apply for extension

• e-FRRO Renewal application expires60 days agoAccepted
• If you have a business trip scheduled in Korea or overseas, it is safe to complete the application before then.
• Received just before expiration → Approval delayed →OverstayDangerous scenarios occur frequently in practice.

Documents frequently required for Employment Visa extension

• Renewed employment contract or contract extension confirmation
• Proof of payment of Indian income taxIncome Tax Return (ITR)— Income tax return history for the period you are paid in India
• Latest proof of employment and salary payment statement from Indian corporation
• Remaining validity period of passport - if insufficient, passport renewal must be processed first
• Previous e-FRRO Registration and Current Residence Form C

Must report in case of moving, changing jobs, or family changes

If you move your residence (change your address), change your company, or change your marital status, etc.Report the changes themselves to e-FRROThere are many cases where you have to do it. especiallyChange of company or end of secondmentIf you have one, you must consider issuing a new Employment Visa or changing its conditions, and arbitrarily changing your workplace may result in a visa violation. If you neglect to file your income tax return, you may be disadvantaged in the renewal process, so it is recommended that you make it a habit to file and store your ITR every year.

The Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida regions are densely populated with branches and partners of large Korean companies, so the company tends to handle most of the visa and FRRO tasks on their behalf. However, the final responsibility always rests with you, so even if you leave it to the company's human resources team, you mustCheck it yourselfI recommend you do it.

Things to keep in mind before taking office

• Passport remaining validity period6 months or more, 2 or more blank pages
• Family relationship, marital relationship, and birth certificateCompleted Apostille in KoreaSave scanned copies in the cloud
• Degree/experience certificate, white background passport photo, crime-free certificate (if requested)

Things to keep in mind by city

• GurgaonSince Korean corporations are concentrated around the Cyber ​​City·DLF·Golf Course Road axis, communication between companies and local personnel is quick.
• Noida/Greater NoidaThere are many dispatches to the manufacturing, electronics, and construction sectors, and in this case, the invitation letter to the Indian corporation isFactory/business address exactly matches actual workplaceWhether you do it becomes a judging point.
• Residence within Delhi (Gurgaon, Noida, etc.) has many embassy and research purposes, and jurisdiction FRRO may vary, so confirmation is required before application.

Summary of Common Mistakes

1. Virtually paid work with a Business Visa → No fines, no forced departure, no re-entry
2. Insufficient Apostille of family documents → Chain delay in issuing X Visa, registering FRRO, and registering children at school
3. Application for extension without following the rule 60 days before expiration → Risk of overstay
4. Not reporting e-FRRO after changing job or address → Problem during post-renewal review

Visa and FRRO are the first gateway to living in India and the prerequisite for all subsequent procedures, including banking, medical care, and children's school.hospital useUltimately, it is presupposed to have a valid visa·FRRO, so it is safest to get it clearly organized in the first month of taking office.