India’s e-B-4 visa, officially the e-Production Investment Business Visa, is a fully online multiple-entry business visa valid for up to six months.
It replaced the older e-PLI visa in late 2025. The visa is intended for production-related business activities rather than long-term employment in India.
It allows foreign professionals to enter India for short-term, production-linked, and investment-related business activities.
It is not a general work permit or investor residency visa.
It is a targeted, time-bound entry category for technical experts and business executives supporting Indian manufacturing and industrial operations.
This article covers:
- What is e-B-4 visa category?
- Who is eligible for an e-B-4 visa?
- How much does e-B-4 visa cost?
- How long is an e-B-4 visa valid?
Key Takeaways
- The e-B-4 visa is India’s digital production investment business visa, effective January 1, 2026.
- It is processed entirely online with no embassy visit required.
- Processing takes 45–50 days and permits stays of up to six months.
- The visa does not permit employment, only production-related activities.
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What Is India’s e-B-4 Visa?
The e-B-4 visa is India’s e-Production Investment Business Visa, a digital sub-category under the broader Business Visa regime.
It was formally introduced on January 1, 2026, and confirmed through an official advisory on January 5, 2026.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry operationalized the online sponsorship module for the visa on November 29, 2025.
The e-B-4 directly replaced the earlier e-Production-Linked Incentive (e-PLI) Visa, which was restricted to companies under specific government-notified manufacturing schemes.
Under the new framework, eligibility has been expanded to all Indian companies.
This is regardless of whether they participate in PLI schemes or not.
This makes the visa far more accessible for foreign professionals engaged in manufacturing and investment projects across India.
From January 1, 2026, paper-based visa applications in this category were discontinued by the Embassy of India in Beijing.
All applications must now be submitted online.
Why is India introducing the e-B-4 visa?
India is expanding its manufacturing sector and encouraging more foreign industrial investment.
The e-B-4 visa is a direct policy instrument to attract foreign technical expertise without creating long-term employment complications.
For multinationals executing a China+1 supply chain strategy, this visa provides a structured, legally compliant route to deploy engineers and executives to Indian facilities.
For foreign professionals, it offers defined, predictable entry conditions with fewer bureaucratic hurdles than an employment visa.
What to check: Ensure the activities declared on the sponsorship letter match what you will actually do on the ground. Discrepancies at ports of entry can result in delays or future visa restrictions.
Who is eligible for e-B-4 visa?
Nationals of e-visa eligible countries may apply for the e-B4 visa if they are being sponsored by a registered Indian company for qualifying production-related activities.
It is not limited to any single nationality, though it was initially introduced with a strong focus on facilitating Chinese nationals.
Both PLI and non-PLI businesses in India can sponsor applicants.
Eligible foreign professionals include:
- Subject matter specialists and technical experts
- Engineers responsible for installation, commissioning, or plant design
- IT professionals handling ERP system deployment and digital infrastructure
- Quality assurance and maintenance personnel
- Supply chain and vendor development specialists
- Senior management and executives overseeing production investments
Permitted activities under the e-B4 visa:
- Installation and commissioning of plant and machinery
- Quality checks and essential maintenance
- Active production operations and process optimization
- IT and ERP system ramp-up
- Workforce training and technical knowledge transfer
- Supply chain development and empaneling of vendors
- Plant design, layout planning, and bring-up
- Senior management and executive oversight related to production investments
What to avoid:
The e-B-4 visa does not cover general commercial visits, sales activities, or any form of full-time employment in India.
If your role involves managerial control, revenue generation, or long-term operational responsibilities, you may need an employment visa instead.
Reality Check:
The e-B-4 does not mean you can freelance or work independently in India. The visa is tightly tied to the sponsoring company’s declared activities.
Any deviation from the stated scope can trigger immigration scrutiny.
What is the maximum permitted stay under India’s e-B-4 visa?
The e-B-4 visa permits a maximum stay of up to six months in India and allows multiple entries during the visa validity period.
This means holders can enter and exit India more than once without applying for a new visa, as long as each stay falls within the six-month overall limit.
Upon arrival in India, all e-B-4 visa holders must register electronically with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 calendar days of arrival.
FRRO registration is mandatory for all e-B-4 visa holders regardless of intended stay duration.
Holders should not travel outside India until FRRO registration is complete.
The six-month validity window is project-linked.
If a production assignment extends beyond this period, the foreign national must exit India and apply for a fresh e-B-4 visa through the same online process.
There is currently no in-country extension process.
How much is the e-B-4 visa fee?
The Indian government determines visa fees on a reciprocity basis, meaning the fee charged can differ significantly across nationalities.
As of 2026, applicants should check the current fee schedule on the official Indian e-Visa portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Alternatively, they can contact the nearest Indian Embassy or High Commission for nationality-specific fee information.
The DPIIT’s NSWS portal (nsws.gov.in) handles the company-side sponsorship registration, which is free of charge for Indian companies.
What to check:
- Confirm the exact visa fee applicable to your nationality at the time of application
- Account for any applicable India Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) surcharges, which are added on top of the base visa fee in some jurisdictions
- Ensure payment is made through the official portal only, third-party agents cannot process e-visa applications on behalf of applicants
What is the processing time for e-B-4 visa?
The e-B-4 visa is typically processed and issued within 45 to 50 days of a completed online application.
This is longer than standard tourist e-visas due to the security and background checks involved in production-linked business travel.
The entire process, from the Indian company generating its digital sponsorship letter on NSWS to the foreign professional receiving the visa, is now fully electronic.
Paper applications are no longer accepted for this category.
Timeline overview:
- Indian company registration on NSWS: Instant digital sponsorship letter with unique reference number
- Foreign professional’s online application at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Submit all required documents.
- Government review by MEA and MHA: roughly 45–50 business days
- Visa approval and arrival: Register with FRRO within 14 days of landing
What to ask:
When planning a project deployment, build at least 60 days of lead time into your timeline to account for any additional verification or document requests.
E-B-4 Visa Requirements
The e-B-4 visa application requires documents from both the sponsoring Indian company and the foreign professional applicant.
Documents required from the foreign professional (all must be in English):
- Copy of the passport page with personal particulars
- Sponsorship letter from the inviting Indian company (with unique NSWS reference number)
- Dispatch letter from the applicant’s current employer
- Proforma details (company profile) of the current employer
- Hukou document (applicable for Chinese nationals)
- Resume of the applicant
All uploaded documents must be certified copies in English. Original documents may be requested for verification during processing.
Steps for the sponsoring Indian company:
- Register on DPIIT’s National Single Window System (NSWS) portal at nsws.gov.in under “Business User Login”
- Select “Production Investment Business Registration (Indian Company)” from the NSWS marketplace
- Submit company details, operational information, and details of the foreign professional to be invited
- Receive a digitally signed Sponsorship Letter with a unique reference number, which is digitally verified against MCA and GSTN databases
- Share the unique reference number with the foreign professional for their visa application
Post-arrival compliance:
- Register electronically with the local FRRO within 14 days of arrival
- Do not travel outside India until FRRO registration is complete
- Ensure activities on the ground match the declared scope in the sponsorship letter
Companies sponsoring multiple foreign professionals should maintain an internal compliance register.
The digitally generated sponsorship letter creates a traceable compliance trail that immigration and enforcement authorities can review.
FAQs
Does India give PR to foreigners?
Yes, India does offer a form of long-term residency to foreign investors under its Permanent Residency Status (PRS) scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet.
However, this is not a traditional PR pathway open to all foreigners.
It is specifically designed for substantial foreign direct investors who meet strict financial thresholds.
What is permanent resident status in India?
India’s Permanent Residency Status (PRS) is a 10-year multiple-entry visa equivalent granted to qualifying foreign investors.
It carries no stipulation on the length of each individual stay, meaning PRS holders can live in India without being bound by standard visa stay limits.
How to get an investor visa in India?
India’s investor pathway involves two stages: an initial B-4 (Investor) visa and then an application for the Permanent Residency Status (PRS) once investment thresholds are met.
Who is eligible for a business visa?
India’s general Business Visa is open to foreign nationals visiting India for a wide range of commercial and professional purposes.
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