Q737. NRI Conducting business in

India on Tourist Visa

Question: Hello, I am an NRI from the US currently in India on a Tourist visa. Am I allowed to conduct business while I am here if it is on behalf of an Indian company? My research has led me to understand that I would require a business visa if I am conducting business on behalf of a company based outside of India, however I am unsure of the rules for an Indian company. Thanks Mukund Devan Answer: Conducting business on behalf of an Indian company amounts to accepting employment, and requires foreigners to have the appropriate business or employment visa in line with their activities. Indian tourist visa is issued to people who wish to visit India for tourism purposes only, activities other than tourism will probably be considered as illegal by the authorities.

Conversion of Tourist Visa to Business

Visa in India

I believe change of visa type used to enter India is generally not allowed, however it may be possible in some conditions. The authority to allow visa conversion vests with the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division). Your options could be to: • Approach the Ministry of Home Affairs, foreigners division at Jaisalmer House, Mansingh Road in Delhi • If you are not in Delhi then contact the nearest FRRO. They are empowered to conduct some aspects of visa extension/conversions and for those cases they are not empowered they will forward the application to the Ministry of Home Affairs. • There is also a FRRO online facility where applications can be submitted online. Visa conversion is mentioned as one of the categories on their webpage. Here is the link: http://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/menufrro.jsp