Articles on: Asia and the Middle East

India — Digital Nomad Visa (What Actually Exists): Everything you need to live and work remotely in India

Knowledge Base – QUESTRAVEL

By Víctor Pizarro, Co-founder of QUESTRAVEL

The essentials

India is a magnet for remote workers: tech hubs like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the creative energy of Mumbai and Delhi, plus restorative spots such as Goa, Rishikesh, and Kerala. Important reality check: India does not (yet) have an official “Digital Nomad Visa.” Still, there are perfectly legal ways remote professionals stay medium-term while keeping their work entirely outside India.

Is there a Digital Nomad Visa in India?

  • No dedicated DNV (yet). There’s no category named “Digital Nomad” under India’s visa system.
  • What most remote workers use instead:
    • Tourist e-Visa (30-day, 1-year, or 5-year options; each entry has a max stay limit by nationality). Apply here: Indian Visa Online (Official) → https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
    • Business Visa (for limited business activities like meetings with partners; does not authorize taking employment in India). General framework: Bureau of Immigration → https://boi.gov.in/
  • Longer stays & extensions/registrations: handled through e-FRRO/FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) when your visa type and conditions allow. Portal: e-FRRO → https://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/
Tip from QUESTRAVEL: Choose the category that matches your actual activity. If your work is 100% for foreign clients/employers and you won’t do revenue-generating work in India, the tourist e-Visa plus compliant stay patterns can be enough for many remote pros testing the waters.

Typical durations & conditions (high level)

  • Tourist e-Visa: commonly 30-day, 1-year, or 5-year visas with multiple entries; each entry usually capped (e.g., 90 or 180 days depending on nationality). Check your exact allowance on Indian Visa Online → https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
  • Business Visa: generally up to 1 year (multi-entry); for business meetings/liaison only, not local employment/contracts. See Bureau of Immigration → https://boi.gov.in/

If you need to extend or manage stays/registrations that your visa conditions require, use e-FRRO → https://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/

What you’ll usually need

  • Valid passport (≥ 6 months)
  • Proof of foreign income (bank statements, contracts)
  • Health insurance valid in India
  • Address in India (hotel booking, lease, or host letter)
  • Clean criminal record (as applicable to your category)

Step-by-step (practical, clean)

  1. Pick the correct route (most often: Tourist e-Visa; sometimes Business Visa).
  2. Apply online on Indian Visa Online → https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
  3. Upload documents (passport scan, photo, and any category-specific proofs).
  4. Pay the fee (varies by nationality/visa type) and receive your e-Visa by email.
  5. Enter India and respect per-entry stay limits on your visa.
  6. If your situation requires registration/extension within the rules → e-FRRO → https://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/

Quick answers

  • Can I legally “work” in India for Indian clients on a tourist or business visa? No. These paths are for foreign-sourced work (tourist) or limited business activities (business visa).
  • Can I stay long term? Many nomads chain compliant entries/pauses. For continuous long-term residence, India doesn’t yet offer a DNV; other categories (study, employment, dependents, OCI, etc.) have different, stricter rules.
  • Where’s the official info?

Why QUESTRAVEL

We’ve helped clients choose the correct visa category, prepare clean proof of foreign income, and plan compliant stay patterns (entries/exits) that match India’s rules. Our “professor-concierge” approach = zero fluff, all compliance.

💡 Ready to design a compliant India plan? Book a 1:1 with QUESTRAVEL and get a clear checklist, timeline, and documentation pack: fromquestravel.com.


Updated on: 03/11/2025