Can You Work in India on a Tourist Visa? Understanding Visa Restrictions

Are you thinking of working in India while travelling? Do you know whether India allows foreigners to work on a tourist visa for India? This blog is going to explore the restrictions regarding tourist visas for India and assess whether Indian tourist visas allow foreigners to work in India.

Everything about Tourist Visas in India

Tourist visas for India are the visas granted by the Indian government to foreigners travelling to India solely for sightseeing and casual visits. By simply filling an Indian visa online form, foreigners can obtain an e-Tourist visa.

Duration of Validity

You have to apply for a tourist eVisa 120 days before your expected date of arrival in India. The visa will retain validity for up to 60 days from the date of issuance.

Flexibility of Tourist Visas for India

The e-tourist visas for India will allow foreigners to double entry. There is a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year, which allows foreigners to travel to India multiple times in a year. Also, a multiple-entry tourist visa is granted to foreigners for 5 years of validity. However, foreign nationals from specific countries like the UK are not allowed to stay more than 180 days in a single visit. However, an Indian tourist visa can not be extended.

Visa Restrictions for Tourists in India?

While using tourist visas, there are certain restrictions. These restrictions include boundaries in employment while travelling to India on a tourist visa.

Things that are allowed with a Tourist Visa for India

With a tourist visa for India, you can engage in recreational activities, sightseeing, and casual visits to meet relatives or friends in India. Moreover, you can also attend a short-term Yoga program (the course duration not exceeding six months) using a tourist visa for India.

Things that are not allowed with a Tourist Visa for India

Using a tourist visa, you can not engage in business activities, full-time educational courses, business activities, research or volunteer work. Above all, a tourist visa for India does not allow a foreigner to get any kind of employment in India. Not adhering to this rule is considered a major violation of the visa regulations as stated by the Indian government. Besides, if you are a performer or entertainer, you can not be involved in paid performances using a tourist visa for India.

Can you Legally Work in India on a Tourist Visa?

In simple terms, if you are a foreigner, you can not work legally in India with a tourist visa. Plus, even if you are coming to India for business-related work, you need to have the right type of visa to enter India.

Why can you not Work in India on a Tourist Visa?

You can not work any kind of permanent employment on a tourist visa simply because a tourist visa is not a suitable document which allows you to work in India. If you work in India, you will receive remuneration or other benefits. And this makes you liable for income tax payment. A tourist visa does not give the provision of work to any tourist which a work visa for India offers.

Examples of Employments Not Allowed with a Tourist Visa

A tourist visa for India disallows foreigners to work in any form of paid employment in India. In addition, activities like freelancing, commissioned work, and volunteering on certain occasions are also prohibited using a tourist visa.

Involving in full-time paid employment in India on a tourist visa can bring legal consequences to you.

Consequences of Violating Visa Rules

There are certain consequences which you can face by abiding by Indian visa rules. These legal consequences include hefty fines, deportation and a temporary or permanent block from entering India in future. The reason behind this is that the Indian government employed strict visa rules for foreigners to reduce illegal immigration to work in India.

Fines and Visa Cancellation

If foreigners work in India using a tourist visa for India, it is categorized under breach of visa conduct. Therefore, accused foreigners can be the subject of sanctions like monetary fines and forfeiture of any bonds. Furthermore, it can also lead to imprisonment.

Barred from Entering India

If found working on a tourist visa, you will become subject to potential travel bans. Therefore, your travel record will not be clear enough for further visa applications.

Implication of Future Visa Application

If your previous visa records are not clear, you will face difficulties in applying for the visa in other countries.

What are the Appropriate Visas for Working in India?

To work in India, you need to have a specific type of work visa depending on the employment. Foreigners intending to work in India need to be sufficiently skilled or need to be mandatorily appointed by an Indian undertaking company on a contractual or permanent basis. Besides, there are other types of work visas approved for foreigners.

Employment Visa

An employment visa (E Visa) is offered to foreigners in India who are highly skilled in specific professional fields like IT, health, teaching and engineering fields. Therefore, the validity of an employment visa depends on the type of work that the foreign national will do in India. Moreover, applicants for an employment visa need to have a valid job offer to get an employment visa for India.

There are several types of employment visas approved by the Indian immigration department. These types include IT professional visa, Professor Visa, Voluntary Work visa, Engineering visa and others depending on the purpose of the work.

Intern Visa

If you are invited by an Indian company to work as an intern, you can apply for an Intern visa for India. However, you need to show proof of internship in the form of an official invitation letter from a recognized organization, educational institution or NGO based in India.

Common Myths about Work Visas in India

Common myths around work visas in India include some basic misconceptions. Not knowing them properly can make you face consequences. 

Myth 1: Employment Visa in India Ensures Permanent Residency in India

An employment visa for India does not allow foreign citizens to get permanent residency (PR) or citizenship.

Myth 2: Getting an Employment visa for India is a straightforward process

Getting approval for an employment visa takes time. Besides the time-consuming procedure of visiting the Embassy, it also depends on the country you are applying from. Therefore, it is suggested to apply for an employment visa for India keeping enough time in hand.

Myth 3: Tourist Visa can be converted to Employment Visa

A tourist visa will not work as an employment visa under any circumstance. Consider the intent of your visit, and apply for the visa accordingly.

Myth 4: You can get an employment visa in India without approval from an Indian employer

Foreigners must get approval or invitation from Indian organizations if they want to apply for employment visas.

Myth 5: Employment visas and tourist visas are processed in a similar manner

Employment visas are processed depending on the urgency of the employment. Although there are standard proceedings for every type of visa. However, special visas require enquiry and cross-checking of the eligibility. Hence, this requires time and makes the application process distinct.

Ready to Find Work in India?

So, in conclusion, is it legal to work on a tourist visa for India? The simple answer is, no. You need an employment visa or E-Visa to work legally in India if you are a foreigner. There are legal consequences of not abiding by the visa regulations in India.

Hence, you are encouraged to do prior research and apply for the suitable visa by using the Indian visa online form.

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