Applying for an Indian Visa

Excited as you may be to come to India, all excitement wanes when you visit the Indian embassy in your country to apply for the Indian Visa. That is your first experience with bureaucracy – Indian style!

As you will find out, there is a dearth of articles and information on the internet on how to apply for an Indian Visa. Checking the embassy website for information does not help either! The most common complaint from expats is that the Indian Embassy website is not updated with correct and and up-to-date information. So naturally it leads to several amendments to your visa application and more than necessary to and fro trips to the embassy. More often than not – as an expat – you are already tired of India – and this is just the first step of your journey!

To help make this process a little simpler, I have put together a few simple points that can help you with your visa application.

Step 1: Know which visa you need to apply for

At present the Indian Government issues thirteen different types of visas. Naturally the documentation for your visa application is dependent on the the type of visa that you apply for. The most commonly sourced visas are the Employment Visa and Tourist Visa.

If you are staying in India for maximum 6 months, you can apply for a tourist visa. The only constraint with the tourist visa is that you cannot re-enter India within 2 months of leaving the country. If you need to return to India within 2 months then you need to get a permit to re-enter the country.

Employment Visas are handed out to those foreign nationals who are being employed by an Indian company in India. If you are coming to work with an NGO, then you can still apply for this visa. An employment visa is generally granted for 1 year at a time, irrespective of the duration of your contract with the Indian company.

Step 2: Prepare your visa application

Your first stop to preparing your visa application should be the Indian embassy website. The standard set of documents for each visa type are generally listed on the website itself.

Once you have these documents in place, call up the embassy and speak to the visa section to confirm if your documents are in order. Most often, the embassy will confirm the standard document list. But when you arrive at the embassy hoping to sail through, you are given a totally different check list with several additional documents. Why embassies never publish the updated checklist is something I cannot fathom yet, but c’est la vie, I guess!

Prepare to visit the embassy at least twice. If you happen to have all the documents in place, consider yourself blessed!. More likely than not, you may have to come back with an additional document.

Step 3: Follow a document check list and submit your application

Prepare your own document check list from references found on the net and through conversations with the embassy.

Standard documents include

• Copies of your passport valid for a minimum of 6 months (provide copies of your entire passport including blank pages)
• 2 passport size photographs (light background)
• Proof of address – major utility bill (gas, water, electricity), driver’s license or copy of lease agreement
• Invitation Letter – from school or company
• Contract of employment  / Letter of Appointment (should indicate your designation, period of employment and  the salary paid to you must be more than USD 25,000)
• Financial documents to support your stay in India

Except for the Employment Visa, all other visa’s have a finite list of documents which are generally listed on the website. However if applying for an Employment Visa, then it is advisable to include

• Proof of registration of the Indian organisation i.e. Memorandum of Association and Certificate of Incorporation of the company
• Tax Liability Letter – which states that the company is responsible for paying taxes on behalf of the applicant
• Letter of Undertaking – stating that if anything adverse happens to the applicant, the company undertakes to repatriate him at their own cost.
• Justification Letter – justifies the skills and expertise for which the applicant is hired by the company and also confirming that his expertise is not available in India. Hence the need to employ an external resource.
• Employment Details Form – click on the link to download the form.

In the case of a Student Visa, you need to provide a letter of appointment which clearly indicates your acceptance to the course of study and duration. In addition you (the institute) need to provide proof that the course is valid under the relevant Indian Government Ministry. If in case this is not available, then the school needs to show proof that the course is governed and registered with a relevant body of study and the certificate awarded on completion of the course is recognized globally. This is mainly to safeguard against fly by night courses and institutes which operate in India.

Visa processing time generally differs from country to country but ideally take into account 7 working days.

Good Luck!!

Your next assignment – Mumbai!

“Your next assignment – Mumbai!”

Crowded streets, animals on the road, Bollywood, chaos, slums ……are these the images rushing through your mind when you here those words? Slumdog Millionaire may be in part responsible for that but for most foreigners, that is the perception of Mumbai.

No doubt, Mumbai can be overwhelming for first timers.. and more so for foreigners! Arriving in Mumbai is like being in the midst of a tornado… you are bombarded from all sides with sounds, smells, tastes and emotions; in these first moments you either love it or hate it!

So the best way to ensure that you love it is to learn as much as you can about the city before arriving here. Be prepared for Mumbai! As your plane descends into Mumbai airport, the city’s landscape will be dotted with sky scrapers and then you will fly over Asia’s biggest slum! Expect the contrasts because that’s what defines Mumbai.

So how can you plan your move while still in your home country? Ideally start planning for your relocation at least three months before.

Obtain an Indian Visa: To work in India there are only two types of visas that you need to refer to; Employment Visa and Business Visa. If you wish to explore business opportunities or conduct business in India you will need to opt for a Business visa. This is issued to individuals who will not be working for, and earning an income from, an organization registered in India but instead they will be working on behalf of a company outside of India. Business visas are generally issued with six month validity or more, with multiple entries. However holders of a business visa are not allowed to remain in India for longer than six months at a time

An Employment Visa, on the other hand, is issued to a foreigner who will be working in India, for an organisation registered in India. Foreigners wishing to  do volunteer work in India also require this category of visa. An employment visa is valid for a year irrespective of the duration of the contract. Further extension up to 5 years could be obtained from Ministry of Home Affairs or the Foreign Regional Registration Office in the concerned state in India, but this is generally granted only after you have worked in India for a period of 3-5 years.

Since Indian Visas is an extensive topic by itself, I would prefer to take it separately in a subsequent blog, so not to worry, more detailed information coming up for this section.

What to Pack: Mumbai is India’s financial capital and mega metropolis so you need not pack all you can find. Firstly, Mumbai’s climate is extremely humid since it is located on the coast. So as far as clothes are concerned, pack light fabrics; light cotton clothing is best. But do note that Mumbai’s corporate attire is shirts and ties for men and formal shirts with pants / skirts for women. Suits are not generally worn, again due to the climate, so depending on your work, you would not require too many suits. Light blazers and jackets are better suited to Mumbai’s climate.

If you are arriving in Mumbai between June – September, this is the monsoon season in Mumbai so do have a sturdy umbrella at hand. Average temperatures in Mumbai generally range from 18 degree celsius in winter to around 30 degree celsius in summer. In May temperatures can soar to even 40 degree celsius (104 degree farenheit) so sunscreen, moisturisers and sunglasses are must haves.

Household items are easily available, you will get the best brands selling the latest models in Mumbai’s various malls, so do not bother shipping across toasters and kettles.

Health & Medicines When in Mumbai know that you will have two faithful companions by your side at most times…… common cold and diarrhea! You cannot really avoid them, no matter how much you try not to eat the Mumbai street food, or have only bottled water. Over the counter medicines for both are available at all chemists in Mumbai You will be more prone to colds during the monsoon season, so build up your intake of Vitamin C to reduce the intensity of the attack. As an option, chewable Vitamin C tablets are available over the counter at all chemists in Mumbai.

Malaria is common in Mumbai so ensure to discuss with your doctor on how to avoid it. You can take a prescription anti malarial drug and when in Mumbai use a mosquito repellent like Odomos available in all local chemists. But do ensure to ask for mosquito repellent and not insect repellant! You can end up with a horrible allergy if you do not explain your requirement correctly.

Ensure to get all vaccinations for vaccine preventable diseases like Hepatitus A, Hepatitus B and Typhoid before you leave.  To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it.

For more information  on what medications are available in India along with their price and manufacturer’s name you can refer to  MedGuideIndia.com. You can then cross check with your physician if alternatives are possible.

Have a handy stock of your regular medications and bring your prescription for any special kind of medicines.

Housing: Like I said earlier, most companies assist the expat in finding a house. Mumbai’s prime business districts include areas like Nariman Point, Lower Parel and Worli in South Mumbai and Andheri, Goregaon, Malad and Bandra in the suburbs. Ideally you would like to find something close by as time and distance in Mumbai defy physics. To cover a distance of 10 kms, you could  take 20 minutes to two and half hours! So Google Maps or Wikimapia may not be your best guide in this case. But most expats working in South Mumbai generally reside in areas like Lower Parel, Neapeansea Road, Malabar Hill and Breach Candy while those working in the suburbs generally stay at Bandra, Andheri, Juhu or Powai . In terms of rental prices, South Mumbai is definitely on the higher side when compared with the suburbs. As a comparison, for your easy reference, I have listed the monthly rentals for a 1000 sq.ft / 93 sq. metres 2BHK (two bedroom-hall-kitchen) apartment, across prime areas where expats generally prefer to reside.

Area	Monthly rent in INR	Monthly rent in USD
Powai	40000	900
Bandra	65000	1500
Breach Candy	155000	3500
Malabar Hill	170000	3800

To get an idea of what rental prices are in the various suburbs of Mumbai you can visit several property websites like Magicbricks and Makaan.com

The Tax Angle The common questions raised by many expats coming to India for work are  “Do I need to pay tax in India? And how much?

Yes – you do have to pay tax in India. If you have resided in India for a total of 180 days or more then your income in India is eligible to be taxed. You will be taxed as per the tax brackets applicable under the Income Tax Act. Note that women and senior citizens have different tax slabs.

For General Tax Payers

Income tax slab (in Rs.)	Tax
0 to 1,80,000	No tax
1,80,001 to 5,00,000	10%
5,00,001 to 8,00,000	20%
Above 8,00,000	30%

As a taxpayer you should ensure to apply for a PAN (Permanent Account Number) Card with the Income Tax Dept. This of course will be done by your company. The primary purpose of a PAN is to bring a universal identification key factor for all financial transactions and indirectly prevent tax evasion by keeping a track of all monetary transactions. Any cash transactions above Rs.50,000 need to be supported with a copy of your PAN card.

Indian Culture Familiarise yourself with the nuances of Indian culture.

• Learn a few Hindi phrases – Get started with pleasantries and manners; it will not only make it easier for you to get around but the locals will go out of their way to help you. Phrases like Hello / Namaste (Na-ma-stay) or How are you? / Aap kaise hain? (Ah-p case hey) or What is your name? / Aapka naam Kya hai? (Ahp-kah nahm kya hai) is a good place to start.
• Indians are very hospitable people so it will not be uncommon for people to invite you for a cup of tea or offer you something to eat.
• Be aware of the diverse religions in a city like Mumbai. Religion is a delicate issue in Mumbai so it is important to understand the complexities that surround it.
• Do not be surprised to see men holding hands and walking down the road! It does not necessarily imply that they are gay, it is just a form of male bonding
• Indians are family oriented, so you will get a lot of “family related” reasons as to why your maid, for example, requires a few days off.
• India is probably one of the few countries where you don’t need to be extremely rich to have a maid and a chauffeur. Most expats in India, irrespective of their position or designation, employ domestic help and have chauffeur driven cars. In fact most middle class Mumbaikars have the same. Unlike western countries it is inexpensive and most expats require these services while in India.

Unlearn or Learn a few standard concepts

Time – In Mumbai, or India for that matter, IST (Indian Standard Time) is generally considered as Indian Stretchable Time. No matter what time is agreed upon, expect the other party to be delayed by 10 minutes at least.

Distance – Distances do not matter in Mumbai. Thanks to major traffic jams on any and every road,  travel to any place in Mumbai will take an hour at the least.

Patience – is indeed a virtue in Mumbai. To get any assistance for your television, broadband, phone lines, plumbing, electrical work…..anything….. you need to consider one week at least! Nothing happens before, and if it does, then it’s a miracle!

Follow up – Should be your mantra in Mumbai… Do not assume that if you have assigned a task to someone, it will get done. You need to follow up! This applies professionally as well as personally.

Things to ensure that you will have when you land in Mumbai

Money Ensure to have a decent amount of local currency with you when you arrive. Ideally you could get an advance from your company but until your bank account is set up, it is advisable to have ready cash with you.

Phone No. It would be ideal if you could have a phone no. set up for you so you have a way of making calls when you arrive in India. However your company would need to do this as to get a prepaid / postpaid phone connection you would require documents which include proof of address, which of course will not be available to you.

Hotel stay for at least 3 weeks since that’s the time it could take to find an apartment.

Someone to receive you when you arrive Generally a company representative or the hotel where you are staying will receive you at the airport. So before you arrive ensure to co-ordinate this aspect. If at all this is not possible the only service that you should use is the Prepaid Taxis which can booked from the airport itself. Just before you exit you will find the prepaid taxi stand. You can book on the spot, pay the fare at the counter itself and a driver will be assigned to you. When you exit look around for the taxi and it will not take you long to locate the driver. No other payment is due to the driver so do not entertain any such requests.

Local contact As most people will tell you, India is not an easy country to live in for any expat. Having a local contact definitely makes it easier for you to truly experience the city without the hassles that come along with it. Here is where I step in! I would be your local contact in Mumbai, guiding you through every stage of the relocation process. So feel free to get in touch with me on expatguidemumbai@gmail.com with any questions that you may have.

Welcome to Mumbai!!