Visa guide · India
Relocating to India: visa categories and tax landscape
Employment Visa for sponsored workers; Business Visa for founders; OCI for diaspora; very narrow inbound categories for unsponsored relocators.
The India relocation landscape
India's visa structure is narrower than many Western relocators expect. The Employment Visa is the standard sponsored route (requires a binding offer at a qualifying salary level). The Business Visa supports founders and trade-related activity. The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) program is for people of Indian origin — practically a long-term residency-equivalent for the diaspora.
There is no broad Digital Nomad Visa equivalent. Many remote workers use tourist visas for short stays and convert to Employment or Business when they have a local entity. Bangalore concentrates the bulk of tech-driven inbound flow.
Visa categories worth knowing
The main residence-permit categories used by relocators. Listed in editorial-priority order, not exhaustive.
Standard sponsored route. Requires a binding job offer at a qualifying salary threshold (USD-equivalent). Initially 1-5 years; renewable.
For founders, consultants, and individuals engaged in trade-related activity with a registered Indian counterpart. Multi-year, multiple-entry.
For people of Indian origin and their spouses. Functionally a lifetime visa with broad work/residency rights; not a path for non-Indian nationals without family ties.
Available for admitted students at Indian institutions including the IITs / IIMs / IISc. Transition to Employment Visa post-graduation is established.
Narrow categories for substantial investment in specific Indian sectors. Documentation-heavy and sector-specific.
Tax landscape for inbound residents
What the tax picture looks like for someone moving to India, alongside any special expat regimes.
India operates progressive income tax with rates up to 30% (plus surcharges and cess). The new tax regime (2020+) offers lower rates but fewer deductions; most professionals choose between the two regimes annually.
There is no broad inbound-favoring expat regime, but specific provisions exist for non-resident Indians (NRIs) and short-stay non-residents that affect global-income taxation. Cross-check with a local CA (chartered accountant) before assuming Indian tax residency.
Practical considerations
- English is the working language for almost all corporate environments. Hindi + regional languages dominate daily life outside expat-heavy neighborhoods.
- Air quality is the dominant lifestyle concern for relocators with respiratory sensitivity — Delhi NCR particularly. Bangalore and Hyderabad are materially better but still below European/Pacific norms during specific months.
India cities on Mundevo
Cost-of-living and salary breakdowns we maintain for cities in this country.
Related terms
Before you act
Verify with the consulate. Search for "India consulate" plus your current country of residence; the consulate site is the authoritative source on current categories, thresholds, and required documents.
Get a tax read. Tax residency, special regimes, and home-country exposure interact in ways no editorial guide can address for your specific situation. A consultation with a tax advisor familiar with India before you move pays for itself many times over.
Build the cost picture. Run the salary and cost calculations for the specific city in India you're considering — visa eligibility is only one of the three pillars (visa, cost, tax) that decide whether a move makes sense.