--- title: "India Employment visa (E-1) 2026: income ₹1.63M+/yr needed" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/employment-visa/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- India · Work # India Employment visa (E-1) **Income needed:** ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Record corrected 12 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-in-employment-visa) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Income needed:** ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k (Income of over INR 1,625,000 a year (≈ $16,900) · Gross salary above INR 16.25 lakh a year, counting salary, allowances and quantified perquisites (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. An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as above USD 25,000 a year.) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (Up to 2 years or the term of the assignment, whichever is less; IT software and IT-enabled sector up to 3 years; experts under a bilateral or government-approved collaboration agreement up to 5 years; extendable year by year to 5 years from first issue (Visa Manual Annex III, 2020). The Indian Visa Online table gives 1 year or the period of the contract.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Not granted to citizens of Pakistan.) - **Tax angle:** Tax relief (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.) ## Key facts Employment 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) Gross salary above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) a year, counting salary, allowances and quantified perquisites (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. An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as above USD 25,000 a year. **Renewal: Renewable, 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. [Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/work_visa_faq.pdf) **Citizenship: General 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. [Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-09/TheCitizenshipAct1955_10092024.pdf) **Where to apply: From 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. [Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/work_visa_faq.pdf) ## 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 apply - The applicant is a highly skilled or qualified professional engaged by a company or organisation in India, or by a foreign firm on an Indian project. - The visa is not granted for jobs for which qualified Indians are available, or for routine, clerical or secretarial jobs. - The employment visa is not granted to citizens of Pakistan. - The visa is issued from the country of origin or a country of domicile with more than 2 years of permanent residence. #### What you must show - Gross salary is above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) (INR 1,625,000 (≈ $16,900)) a year, counting salary, allowances and quantified perquisites such as rent-free accommodation. - An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as a salary above USD 25,000 a year. - 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. - A lower floor of INR 9.10 lakh (≈ $9,490) a year applies to foreign faculty at assistant professor level and above in the listed central higher education institutions. - For a visa of less than one year the minimum salary is worked out pro rata. - Tax liabilities are met. #### Documents - The sponsor is named on the visa. - Proof of employment, qualifications and company registration is required. #### Steps 1. The visa is not available as an e-visa. #### After you arrive - Register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival when the visa is valid for more than 180 days. ## 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 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 - **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 years** Alternative resident test - **At least 120 days in a tax year, together with 365 days or more in the preceding four tax years** Alternative 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Visa for highly skilled professionals engaged by a company or organisation in India (or a foreign company executing a project in India) on contract or employment basis. Not granted for jobs for which qualified Indians are available or for routine, clerical or ordinary jobs. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) #### What you must show - Income of over INR 1,625,000 a year (≈ $16,900) · Gross salary above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) a year, counting salary, allowances and quantified perquisites (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. An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as above USD 25,000 a year. (sources 6, 5) #### Requirements - The applicant is a highly skilled or qualified professional engaged by a company or organisation in India, or by a foreign firm on an Indian project. (source 5) - The visa is not granted for jobs for which qualified Indians are available, or for routine, clerical or secretarial jobs. (source 5) - The employment visa is not granted to citizens of Pakistan. (source 6) - The visa is issued from the country of origin or a country of domicile with more than 2 years of permanent residence. (source 5) - Gross salary is above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) (INR 1,625,000 (≈ $16,900)) a year, counting salary, allowances and quantified perquisites such as rent-free accommodation. (source 6) - An older Ministry of Home Affairs FAQ states the floor as a salary above USD 25,000 a year. (source 5) - 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. (source 6) - A lower floor of INR 9.10 lakh (≈ $9,490) a year applies to foreign faculty at assistant professor level and above in the listed central higher education institutions. (source 6) - For a visa of less than one year the minimum salary is worked out pro rata. (source 6) - Tax liabilities are met. (source 5) - The sponsor is named on the visa. (source 5) - Proof of employment, qualifications and company registration is required. (source 5) - The visa is not available as an e-visa. (sources 5, 2) - Register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival when the visa is valid for more than 180 days. (sources 5, 2) #### Stay - Up to 2 years or the term of the assignment, whichever is less; IT software and IT-enabled sector up to 3 years; experts under a bilateral or government-approved collaboration agreement up to 5 years; extendable year by year to 5 years from first issue (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 Employment with the named sponsoring employer. #### Family Family members receive X visas co-terminus with the principal holder's 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. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [List of Visas (B, E, F, S, X, T categories)](https://boi.gov.in/boi/contents/visa-oci/apply-for-visa/list-of-visas) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10 2. [e-Visa (categories, durations, documents, FAQ)](https://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (indianvisaonline.gov.in) · checked 2026-10-12 3. [Details of visas granted by India (Visa Manual extract, Annex III)](https://www.mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/AnnexIII_01022018.pdf) · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2018-02-01 4. [Visa provision (period, entry, extension by visa type)](https://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/visa-provision.html) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-12 5. [FAQs relating to work related visas issued by India (Business and Employment visas)](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/work_visa_faq.pdf) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division · checked 2026-10-12 6. [Details of visas granted by India (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020)](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/AnnexIIIDetailsofVisas_20082020.pdf) · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12 7. [The Citizenship Act, 1955 (sections 5, 6 and Third Schedule)](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-09/TheCitizenshipAct1955_10092024.pdf) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked 2026-10-11 ## Employment visa (E-1) and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Employment visa (E-1) | Needs income of ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Consultant visa (E-1)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/employment-visa-consultant/) | Needs income of ₹1.6M+ a year ≈ $17k | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [NGO employment (E-2)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/employment-visa-ngo-e2/) | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [Intern visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/intern-visa/) | Needs income of ₹780k+ a year ≈ $8,130 | 1 yr | – | | [Research visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/research-visa/) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Employment visa (E-1)? Income of over INR 1,625,000 a year (≈ $16,900). Gross salary above INR 16.25 lakh (≈ $16,900) a year, counting salary, allowances and quantified perquisites (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020). ### How long can I stay on the Employment visa (E-1)? Up to 2 years or the term of the assignment, whichever is less; IT software and IT-enabled sector up to 3 years; experts under a bilateral or government-approved collaboration agreement up to 5 years; extendable year by year to 5 years from first issue (Visa Manual Annex III, 2020). ### Can I work on the Employment visa (E-1)? Employment with the named sponsoring employer. ### Can I bring my family on the Employment visa (E-1)? Family members receive X visas co-terminus with the principal holder's visa. ### Who can apply for the Employment visa (E-1)? Not granted to citizens of Pakistan. Not open to: Pakistan. ### Is there a tax break for Employment 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/tax/#tax-in-rnor-status) Tax relief Foreign-source income: RNOR 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 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/tax/) ## More in India [e-Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/e-student-visa/) [Student visa (S-1)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/student-visa-s1/) [OCI card by descent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/oci-by-descent/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇹🇭 LTR · Highly Skilled](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-highly-skilled-professional/) [🇯🇵 Highly Skilled Professional](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/highly-skilled-professional/) [🇮🇩 Special talent visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e33a-special-talent-sponsored/) [🇦🇪 Golden · Senior specialist](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-specialised-professional/) [🇸🇬 Employment Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/employment-pass/) [🇲🇾 Residence Pass-Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/rp-t/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 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. 1. [List of Visas (B, E, F, S, X, T categories)](https://boi.gov.in/boi/contents/visa-oci/apply-for-visa/list-of-visas) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10 2. [e-Visa (categories, durations, documents, FAQ)](https://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (indianvisaonline.gov.in) · checked 2026-10-12 3. [Details of visas granted by India (Visa Manual extract, Annex III)](https://www.mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/AnnexIII_01022018.pdf) · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Visa provision (period, entry, extension by visa type)](https://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/visa-provision.html) · Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-12 5. [FAQs relating to work related visas issued by India (Business and Employment visas)](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/work_visa_faq.pdf) · Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division · checked 2026-10-12 6. [Details of visas granted by India (Visa Manual Annex III, 20 August 2020)](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/AnnexIIIDetailsofVisas_20082020.pdf) · Ministry of Home Affairs, India · checked 2026-10-12 7. [The Citizenship Act, 1955 (sections 5, 6 and Third Schedule)](https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-09/TheCitizenshipAct1955_10092024.pdf) · 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](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.