Visa rules eased, foreign bizmen, techies can visit

With a view to restarting the economy, the government in a cautious first step on Wednesday allowed foreign businessmen, engineers and healthcare professionals to come to India provided they get their visas re-validated and fly into the country in chartered flights. The home ministry’s order covered four broad categories of foreigners who can enter the country in non-scheduled commercial flights or chartered flights. These include businessmen coming to India on a business visa, but other than on B-3 visa for sports.

Foreign healthcare professionals and researchers, engineers and technicians for technical work at Indian health sector facilities, including laboratories and factories have also been allowed, subject to a letter of invitation from a recognised and registered healthcare facility, registered pharmaceutical company or accredited university in India.

Technical foreign experts involved in engineering, managerial, design or other specialists travelling to India on behalf of foreign business entities located in India would also be granted visas. This includes all manufacturing units, design units, software and IT units as well as financial sector companies (banking and non-banking).

Visa would now also be given to even other foreign technical specialists and engineers travelling for installation, repair and maintenance of foreign-origin machinery and equipment facilities in India, on the invitation of a registered Indian business entity. These could be for equipment installation, or is under warranty, or for after sales servicing or repair on commercial terms. “The above categories of foreign nationals would have to obtain a fresh business visa or employment visa, as applicable, from the Indian missions and posts abroad,” home ministry’s statement said. Also, foreign nationals holding a valid longterm multiple-entry business visa (other than B-3 visa for sports) issued by the Indian missions abroad would have to get the business visa re-validated.