India Visas
As specialists in Indian immigration and visa services, Global Visas are equipped to help clients obtain the full range of Indian visas and work permits. In India, immigration law requires all non-Indian nationals to obtain a visa before entering the country for any length of time. Global Visas’ specialist Indian immigration consultants are able to obtain anything from a short-term Indian visa through to Indian work permits and Intra Company transfers.
To find out whether you qualify and to set you Indian visa or work permit application in motion today, simply visit the online assessment area and complete one of our enquiry forms.
Indian Work Permits – Living and Working in India
Indian Work Permits
Indian work permits are generally more loosely defined than those in many other popular destinations, however, in order to work in India; all non-Indian nationals must obtain a work permit. The process is led by the employer and a work permit may be extended by 12 months at a time as required. However, an Indian work permit does not provide a route to permanent residency and clients will be required to depart from India once their visa has expired.
Working in India through an ICT
The Indian intra company transfer or ICT is a category of work permit, which allows employees to transfer to India from overseas subsidiaries in order to fill a particular role. The ICT serves as a relatively quick way of relocating to India, though like a work permit, it does not provide a route to permanent residency and this route only applies to existing overseas employees of an Indian company. A four-year university degree is normally expected and ICTs will only be considered where it can be shown that no existing Indian citizen or permanent resident will be displaced by the presence of a non-Indian national.
Long Term Immigration Services
India provides two long-term residency schemes, which allow people of Indian origin to remain in India for a prolonged period and in many cases for life. The Persons of Indian Origin (PIO Card) and the Overseas Citizenship of India or OCI both offer the opportunity to remain in India indefinitely without the need to apply for further Indian visas or work permits.
Applying for a PIO Card
The Persons of Indian Origin scheme (PIO) is designed for people with Indian ancestry or parentage to live and work in India on a permanent basis. Applicants must have either been born in India themselves or have a parent or grandparent who was born in India. The key benefits of this long-term Indian immigration service are its very long duration of 15 years, which easily accommodates the 7-year minimum residency requirement beyond which a permanent residency application can be submitted, and the inclusion of the applicant’s spouse. The PIO card removes the need to apply for an Indian work permit in order to take up employment and PIO holders may work for any employer they choose.
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)
Unlike the PIO Card, the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme does not include the client’s spouse, however the OCI is granted for life and should they choose do so an OCI holder may apply for full Indian citizenship after five years, rather than the seven years associated with the PIO card. The OCI does not offer ‘dual citizenship’ as such since India does not support this practice, however it does offer overseas citizens the right to retain their citizenship of another country whilst also gaining many of the same rights as full Indian citizens including the right to remain in India for life.
Global Visas can call upon the combined experience of one of the largest teams of immigration lawyers available. Our accredited Indian immigration specialists are committed to helping you obtain the Indian visa service you need. Just visit the online assessment area now to begin your application.
