The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a press release on November 14, 2018, for further liberalizing the visa regime in India during the past year, to facilitate the smooth entry, stay and movement of foreign nationals in India. Some of the key changes are:

i.       Employment visas and business visas can now be extended from within India, by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (‘FRRO’), for a period of up to 10 years. Previously foreign nationals had to leave the country at the end of five years and apply for a renewal from their home country.

ii.      Intern visas are now available at any time during the course of study. The minimum remuneration requirement for grant of Intern Visa has now been reduced from INR 780,000 per annum to INR 360,000 per annum (subject to prescribed conditions).

iii.    Two new categories of e-visas (i.e. e-conference and e-medical attendant) visas have been introduced and e-visas available for tourists, business, medical, conferences and medical attendants, can be availed of three times in a year (which was previously twice a year) which can be extended for 90 days by the FRRO.