News: India has introduced the e-Production Investment Business Visa to facilitate Chinese business travel as part of recent people-centric steps.
About e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa)
- The e-B-4 Visa is an online business visa for foreign professionals undertaking production-related activities in India.
- Launched by: It was launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Objective: The objective is to simplify business visa procedures and support production, manufacturing, and investment-linked activities by foreign professionals in India.
- Operational date: The e-B-4 Visa was introduced on January 1.
- Validity and stay: The visa permits a stay in India for up to six months.
- Processing Time: The visa is issued in about 45 to 50 days after online application.
- Application Process : The application process is fully digital and does not require visiting an embassy or using intermediaries.
- Mandatory registration: Indian companies must generate a digital sponsorship letter through the National Single Window System before visa application.
- The foreign professional then applies on the Indian e-Visa portal using the sponsorship letter number and uploads the required documents.
- Visa approval is decided separately by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Eligible Activities include
- Installation and commissioning of equipment
- Quality check and essential maintenance
- Production activities
- IT systems and ERP ramp-up
- Training and knowledge transfer
- Supply chain development for empanelling vendors
- Plant design and bring-up
- Senior management and executive visits
