India · Work
India Consultant visa (E-1)
Income needed: ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k
Employment Visa (E-1) — consultants and other contract workers
Checked against official sources on Record corrected 12 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Consultant visa (E-1) is a work route for India. Applicants need income of ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Shown, not spent₹1.6M+/yr ≈ $17k
- INR 1,625,000 a year (≈ $16,900)Same annual floor as the E-1 visa (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020). The floor does not apply to ethnic cooks employed by foreign missions, language teachers other than English teachers, translators, embassy and high commission staff, honorary workers at registered NGOs, foreign faculty of the South Asian University and Nalanda University, and circus artists. Specialist chefs employed in a commercial venture must meet the floor. An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as above USD 25,000 a year.
RenewalRenewable, 5 years max
The visa can be extended year to year by the State Government, FRRO or FRO up to 5 years in total from the first issue, subject to good conduct and continued employment. Income tax returns must be filed.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 12 years of residence
Naturalization needs residence in India throughout the 12 months before applying and at least 11 years of residence in the 14 years before that, plus good character and knowledge of an Indian language.
Where to applyFrom abroad
The visa must be issued from your country of origin, or your country of domicile if you have lived there permanently for more than 2 years.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 5 years in total
- Applications are made from outside India, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in India
- Not open to passports from Pakistan
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Eligible: consultants paid a fixed remuneration by an Indian company.
- Eligible: self-employed foreign nationals giving highly skilled engineering, medical, accounting, legal or similar services where law permits.
- Eligible: language teachers and interpreters, specialist chefs, coaches and performing artists.
- Eligible: installation engineers and technical-support staff.
What you must show4
- The annual floor is the same as for the E-1 visa: gross pay above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) (INR 1,625,000 (≈ $16,900)).
- The floor does not apply to ethnic cooks employed by foreign missions, language teachers other than English teachers, translators, embassy and high commission staff, honorary workers at registered NGOs, foreign faculty of the South Asian University and Nalanda University, and circus artists.
- Specialist chefs employed in a commercial venture must meet the floor.
- An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as a salary above USD 25,000 a year.
When you become tax resident
How India decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 5 years in total
- Tax residence
- More than 729 days in a preceding seven tax yearsPresence above 729 days (together with residence in two of the ten preceding years) makes an individual ordinarily resident; 729 days or less gives RNOR status
- At least 182 days in a tax year (1 April to 31 March)Resident in India
- At least 60 days in a tax year, together with 365 days or more in the preceding four tax yearsAlternative resident test
- At least 120 days in a tax year, together with 365 days or more in the preceding four tax yearsAlternative test for citizens or persons of Indian origin with Indian income above INR 15 lakh (≈ $15,600)
- Foreign-source income
RNOR relief
A resident individual who is 'not ordinarily resident' in India is taxed on income received or accruing in India, and on foreign-source income only when it comes from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India.
- Special regime
Foreign-source income largely outside tax · Tax relief
All tax rules for India Tax records checked
Full official text
Employment visa also available to foreign consultants on contract, self-employed foreigners providing engineering, medical, accounting, legal or similar highly skilled services as independent consultants (where permitted by law), language teachers, specialist chefs, coaches and installation engineers, subject to the same conditions as the general employment visa. 1 2 3 4
What you must show
- Income of over INR 1,625,000 a year (≈ $16,900) · Same annual floor as the E-1 visa (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020). The floor does not apply to ethnic cooks employed by foreign missions, language teachers other than English teachers, translators, embassy and high commission staff, honorary workers at registered NGOs, foreign faculty of the South Asian University and Nalanda University, and circus artists. Specialist chefs employed in a commercial venture must meet the floor. An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as above USD 25,000 a year. 2 1
Requirements
- Eligible: consultants paid a fixed remuneration by an Indian company. 1
- Eligible: self-employed foreign nationals giving highly skilled engineering, medical, accounting, legal or similar services where law permits. 1
- Eligible: language teachers and interpreters, specialist chefs, coaches and performing artists. 1
- Eligible: installation engineers and technical-support staff. 1
- The annual floor is the same as for the E-1 visa: gross pay above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) (INR 1,625,000 (≈ $16,900)). 2
- The floor does not apply to ethnic cooks employed by foreign missions, language teachers other than English teachers, translators, embassy and high commission staff, honorary workers at registered NGOs, foreign faculty of the South Asian University and Nalanda University, and circus artists. 2
- Specialist chefs employed in a commercial venture must meet the floor. 2
- An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as a salary above USD 25,000 a year. 1
Stay
- As for the E-1 visa: up to 2 years or the term of the assignment, whichever is less; extendable year by year to 5 years in total (Visa Manual Annex III, 2020). The Indian Visa Online table gives 1 year or the period of the contract.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Visa validity: 24 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Not granted to citizens of Pakistan. Not open to: Pakistan.
Work
Services under the contract or consultancy.
Family
Family members receive X visas co-terminus with the principal visa.
Fine print
Two Ministry of Home Affairs documents state the salary floor differently. The Visa Manual extract (Annex III, dated 20 August 2020) says a gross salary above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) a year; the work visa FAQ, a file created in 2010, says above USD 25,000 a year. The figure shown here is the one in the more recent document. The length also differs between two official pages: the Visa Manual extract gives up to 2 years (3 years in the IT sector, 5 years under government-approved agreements), while the Indian Visa Online table gives 1 year or the period of the contract. Ask the Indian mission that will issue the visa which applies to you.
Official sources
- FAQs relating to work related visas issued by India (Business and Employment visas) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division · checked 2026-10-12
- Details of visas granted by India (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020) · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12
- Visa provision (period, entry, extension by visa type) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-12
- The Citizenship Act, 1955 (sections 5, 6 and Third Schedule) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
Consultant visa (E-1) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant visa (E-1) | Needs income of ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Employment visa (E-1) | Needs income of ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| NGO employment (E-2) | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Intern visa | Needs income of ₹780k+ a year ≈ $8,130 | 1 yr | – |
| Research visa | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Consultant visa (E-1)?
Income of over INR 1,625,000 a year (≈ $16,900). Same annual floor as the E-1 visa (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020).
How long can I stay on the Consultant visa (E-1)?
As for the E-1 visa: up to 2 years or the term of the assignment, whichever is less; extendable year by year to 5 years in total (Visa Manual Annex III, 2020).
Can I work on the Consultant visa (E-1)?
Services under the contract or consultancy.
Can I bring my family on the Consultant visa (E-1)?
Family members receive X visas co-terminus with the principal visa.
Who can apply for the Consultant visa (E-1)?
Not granted to citizens of Pakistan. Not open to: Pakistan.
Is there a tax break for Consultant visa (E-1) holders in India?
Not ordinarily resident (RNOR) status: foreign-source income largely outside tax: A resident individual who is 'not ordinarily resident' in India is taxed on income received or accruing in India, and on foreign-source income only when it comes from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Not ordinarily resident (RNOR) status: foreign-source income largely outside tax
Tax relief
Details
- On: Income received or accruing in India
- Limit: ₹1.5M/yr ≈ $16k
A resident individual who is 'not ordinarily resident' in India is taxed on income received or accruing in India, and on foreign-source income only when it comes from a business controlled in or a profession set up in India.
Taxed on
Income received or accruing in India, plus foreign-source income derived from a business controlled in India or a profession set up in India.
Who it applies to
- Resident in India for the tax year but non-resident in nine of the ten preceding years, or present in India 729 days or less in the seven preceding years.
- Indian citizens or persons of Indian origin who visit India for 120 to 181 days with Indian-source income above INR 15 lakh (≈ $15,600) are treated as not ordinarily resident.
- Indian citizens deemed resident because Indian income exceeds INR 15 lakh (≈ $15,600) and they are liable to tax nowhere else are treated as not ordinarily resident.
- From tax years beginning on or after 1 April 2026 the rule is section 6(13) and section 5 of the Income-tax Act 2025; the criteria match the 1961 Act.
Exclusions
- Ordinarily resident individuals (more than 729 days in the preceding seven years and resident in at least two of the preceding ten years) are taxed on worldwide income.
Limits
- INR 1,500,000 a year (≈ $15,600) · Indian-source income (other than foreign-source) above which a citizen not taxed elsewhere is deemed resident, as RNOR
Days in the country
- More than 729 days in preceding seven tax years · Presence above 729 days (together with residence in two of the ten preceding years) makes an individual ordinarily resident; 729 days or less gives RNOR status
Tax residence
RNOR status is annual and tests look back to years governed by the 1961 Act.
Visas
Visa type is irrelevant; status depends on days of presence and past residence.
Other taxes
Goods and services tax, surcharge and cess apply separately.
Checked against official sources on Change log
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- FAQs relating to work related visas issued by India (Business and Employment visas) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division · checked 2026-10-12
- Details of visas granted by India (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020) · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12
- Visa provision (period, entry, extension by visa type) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-12
- The Citizenship Act, 1955 (sections 5, 6 and Third Schedule) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.