Employment Visa Salary Threshold 2026: What Counts, Who Is Exempt, and the Reported Increase
By Devendra Kumar Arya, Director, Fargo Worldwide (OPC) Private Limited, Gurugram · Last verified: 6 November 2026 · Reading time: about 16 minutes
The Employment Visa salary threshold is the minimum gross annual salary a foreign national must draw from an Indian employer to qualify for an Indian Employment Visa. Indian Missions publish this minimum as a gross salary in excess of ₹16.25 lakh per year. In mid-October 2026, global immigration firm Fragomen reported that the figure being applied to new Employment Visa applications and renewals filed in India had risen to ₹24 lakh, although the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not yet published an official notification.
For HR teams and foreign employees, that gap between the published rule and the figure reportedly applied at the counter matters most at one moment: the next visa extension. This guide explains what the threshold is, what counts towards it, who is exempt, what is confirmed and unconfirmed about the ₹24 lakh figure, and the exact steps employers should take now.
Quick Answer: What Is the Employment Visa Salary Threshold in 2026?
- Published minimum: a gross salary in excess of ₹16.25 lakh per year, as listed on Indian Mission visa pages (checked 6 November 2026).
- Reported working figure: ₹24 lakh per year for new Employment Visa applications and renewals filed in India, effective from mid-October 2026. No MHA notification yet.
- Fully exempt: ethnic cooks of foreign Missions, non-English language teachers and translators, foreign artistes on performance contracts, and coaches of national, state or reputed club teams.
- Lower floors: ₹9.10 lakh for faculty at central higher-education institutions; ₹3.60 lakh for persons of Indian origin and spouses or children of Indian citizens who are not OCI cardholders.
- Our advice: plan new offers and any extension due in the next 12 months at ₹24 lakh or above until MHA clarifies.
Employment Visa salary rules at a glance (as of 6 November 2026)
| Item | Current position | Authority / source |
|---|---|---|
| Published minimum salary | Gross salary in excess of ₹16.25 lakh per year | MHA visa guidelines, as published by Indian Missions |
| Reported revised minimum | ₹24 lakh per year (about 47.7% higher) | Fragomen alert, 16 October 2026; no MHA notification |
| Reported scope | New Employment Visa applications and renewals filed in India | Fragomen alert, 16 October 2026 |
| Faculty at central higher-education institutions | ₹9.10 lakh per year | MHA decision, February 2017 |
| Persons of Indian origin; spouses or children of Indian citizens (non-OCI) | ₹3.60 lakh per year | Indian Mission guidance |
| Honorary work with a registered NGO | Honorarium of up to ₹10,000 per month | Indian Mission guidance |
| Who checks it | Indian Missions at visa issue; FRRO/FRO under the Bureau of Immigration at extension | MHA framework |
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What Is the Employment Visa Salary Threshold?
The Employment Visa salary threshold is a minimum pay condition attached to India's Employment Visa. A foreign national can only be sponsored for this visa if the Indian company, organisation or project engaging them pays a gross annual salary above the set floor, unless an exemption applies.
The rule sits inside a broader eligibility test. According to the Employment Visa page of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, the applicant should be a highly skilled or qualified professional engaged by an organisation in India on contract or employment basis, must show proof of that engagement and of their qualifications, and should draw a gross salary in excess of ₹16.25 lakh per year.
When MHA extended the salary floor to Employment Visas in every sector in 2010, it explained that limiting Employment Visas to people earning above it would generally keep these visas away from routine, ordinary or clerical jobs. That purpose still explains how officers read borderline files today.
Who sets the threshold and who applies it?
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): sets visa policy, including the salary condition and its exemptions.
- Indian Missions and Posts abroad (under the Ministry of External Affairs): check the salary when they issue a fresh Employment Visa.
- FRRO or FRO (Bureau of Immigration, under MHA): check it again when an Employment Visa is extended in India through the e-FRRO portal.
Is the threshold in US dollars or Indian rupees?
The threshold began in US dollars. In 2010, MHA told Parliament that a foreign national sponsored for an Employment Visa in any sector should draw a salary in excess of USD 25,000 per year. By 2017, MHA was already describing the general floor in rupees as ₹16.25 lakh, and current Mission pages state it as a gross salary above ₹16.25 lakh.
Many websites still quote "USD 25,000" and convert it into today's rupee value. Those conversions are not the published rule. If you are drafting a contract, state the gross annual salary in Indian rupees.
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| October 2010 | Minimum salary in excess of USD 25,000 per year for Employment Visas in any sector, with exemptions for ethnic cooks, non-English language teachers and translators, and embassy staff | MHA reply in the Lok Sabha |
| February 2017 | Floor for foreign faculty (Assistant Professor and above) at central higher-education institutions reduced from ₹16.25 lakh to ₹9.10 lakh | MHA, reported by PTI |
| October 2026 | ₹24 lakh reportedly applied to new applications and renewals filed in India | Fragomen alert, 16 October 2026 |
The Reported ₹24 Lakh Employment Visa Salary Threshold: What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
On 16 October 2026, Fragomen reported that the minimum annual salary for Employment Visa eligibility had increased from ₹16,25,000 to ₹24,00,000 with immediate effect. It described this as the first change to the minimum salary level since 2018 and an increase of roughly 47.7%.
The important detail is how the change surfaced. MHA has not published a notification. The revised figure was observed in endorsements on residence permits recently issued by local FRROs, and authorities reportedly confirmed it verbally.
| Reported so far | Not yet known |
|---|---|
| New figure: ₹24,00,000 gross per year | Whether MHA will publish a formal notification or amend the Visa Manual |
| Effective immediately from mid-October 2026 | Whether Indian Missions abroad will apply it to fresh visa applications. The San Francisco Consulate's page still showed ₹16.25 lakh when we checked on 6 November 2026 |
| Applies to new Employment Visa applications and renewals filed in India | Whether the ₹9.10 lakh and ₹3.60 lakh floors, and the exemptions, will change |
| Seen in endorsements on FRRO-issued residence permits | Whether any transition period applies to employees already in India |
How to treat it: use ₹24 lakh as your planning figure for any filing in India, but do not describe it as a notified rule in contracts or policies. Keep a dated record of what your jurisdictional FRRO tells you, and recheck the MHA website and Bureau of Immigration for a formal notice before each filing.
What Counts Toward the Employment Visa Salary Threshold?
The published test for the Employment Visa salary threshold is gross salary: the total annual pay before tax and other deductions, as set out in the employment contract. Official guidance does not publish a detailed list of which pay components count, so the safest approach is to show a guaranteed gross figure above the threshold without relying on uncertain items.
The table below is our practical view of how to present each component in a visa or extension file. It is not an official list, so confirm borderline cases with the jurisdictional FRRO.
| Pay component | How to treat it in your paperwork |
|---|---|
| Basic salary | Counts. This is the core of the gross figure. |
| Fixed allowances (house rent, special, transport) | Include when they are part of the contracted gross salary and appear on payslips. |
| Employer-provided accommodation or other taxable perquisites | Often treated as part of the package. Document the value in the contract and payroll records, and confirm with the FRRO before relying on it to cross the line. |
| Variable bonus or incentive | Do not rely on it. Officers look at contracted, guaranteed pay. |
| One-time joining or relocation bonus | Do not count it towards the annual floor. |
| Reimbursements (travel, mobile, relocation costs) | Not salary. Leave them out of the threshold calculation. |
| Part of pay delivered outside India (split payroll) | Not addressed in published guidance. The Indian contract should state the full gross figure, and tax records should match it. Confirm before filing. |
Which documents prove the salary?
For a fresh visa, the employment contract or appointment letter should state the annual gross salary explicitly. The India Visa Application Centre in China, for example, asks for a signed contract that explicitly states annual income above ₹16.25 lakh. For an extension through e-FRRO, files typically include the renewed contract or extension letter, recent salary slips, Form 16, the income tax return and PAN details.
Why consistency matters more than the headline figure
The figure in the contract, the payslips, Form 16 and the income tax return should tell the same story. A contract showing ₹25 lakh next to payslips that add up to ₹19 lakh invites a query, or worse. If you revise a salary to meet the Employment Visa salary threshold, issue a dated addendum and run the new figure through payroll before filing.
Who Is Exempt From the Employment Visa Salary Threshold?
Four categories are fully exempt from the Employment Visa salary threshold, according to current Indian Mission guidance. Each exemption is narrower than it sounds, so read the fine print before relying on one.
| Exempt category | Fine print |
|---|---|
| Ethnic cooks | Only cooks employed by foreign Missions in India. Cooks in commercial ventures such as restaurants and hotels are not covered. |
| Language teachers and translators | Only teachers of languages other than English. Teachers who teach other subjects in a foreign language are not covered. |
| Foreign artistes | Engaged to give regular performances for the length of a contract with hotels, clubs or other organisations. |
| Sports coaches | Coaches of national or state-level teams, or of reputed sports clubs. |
Older lists, including MHA's 2010 version, also mention staff working for the concerned embassy or high commission in India. If your case depends on that category, confirm the current position with the Mission before applying.
Categories with a lower salary floor
| Category | Floor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty at central higher-education institutions (Assistant Professor and above) | ₹9.10 lakh per year | Reduced from ₹16.25 lakh in February 2017. |
| Persons of Indian origin, and spouses or children of Indian citizens, PIOs or OCI cardholders | ₹3.60 lakh per year | Applies only to people who are not OCI cardholders themselves. |
| Honorary work with an NGO registered in India | Honorarium up to ₹10,000 per month | Unpaid honorary work. Proof of engagement with the registered NGO is required. |
The October 2026 reports do not say whether these lower floors have changed. Until MHA clarifies, apply the published figures but check with the FRRO before filing.
Who Does Not Need an Employment Visa at All?
- Indian citizens, obviously, including those returning from abroad.
- OCI cardholders can generally take up private-sector employment in India without an Employment Visa, so the salary floor does not apply to them. Some activities still need special permission, so check your role against the current OCI rules. Our OCI card guide explains eligibility.
- Business Visa holders are not exempt. They simply cannot be employed. A Business Visa does not allow anyone to draw a salary from an Indian company, and official visa-centre guidance (for example, the India Visa Application Centre in China) states that a Business Visa cannot be converted into an Employment Visa in India. See our Business Visa India guide for what that visa does allow.
How the Employment Visa Salary Threshold Affects FRRO Extensions
Employment Visa extensions are filed in India through the e-FRRO portal, and the reported ₹24 lakh figure applies to renewals filed in India. That means employees already working in India with a gross salary between ₹16.25 lakh and ₹24 lakh are the most exposed to the revised Employment Visa salary threshold, and the problem surfaces at their next extension, not before.
Who is most at risk?
- Engineers and technical specialists hired at or just above ₹16.25 lakh.
- Employees whose contracts quote salary in US dollars or another currency, where exchange rates have shifted the rupee value.
- Employees whose package depends on variable pay or perquisites to cross the line.
- Anyone with an extension due within the next three to six months, leaving little time to revise payroll.
What happens if the salary falls short?
MHA's long-standing position is that an Employment Visa application may be rejected if the salary threshold is not met. At the extension stage, a shortfall can lead to a query or a refusal. If an extension is refused close to visa expiry, the employee may need an Exit Permit before leaving India. Plan early so it never comes to that.
How early should you start?
We suggest reviewing salary at least 60 days before visa expiry. That leaves time to issue an addendum, run one or two payroll cycles at the new figure, and still file the extension well before the deadline. For filings that are already late, our urgent FRRO support page explains the options.
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Employer Checklist: 7 Steps to Meet the Employment Visa Salary Threshold
- Build one list of every foreign employee so you can see who is close to the Employment Visa salary threshold. Record visa type, visa expiry, FRRO registration expiry and current gross annual salary in rupees.
- Flag anyone below ₹24 lakh whose extension falls due in the next 12 months.
- Decide on each flagged case: revise the salary, document an existing package more accurately, or check whether the person qualifies under an exemption, a lower floor or OCI status.
- Issue a dated contract addendum stating the revised gross annual salary in Indian rupees.
- Align payroll and tax: make sure payslips, TDS and Form 16 reflect the revised figure before filing.
- Keep evidence of any exemption, such as the Mission employment letter for an ethnic cook or the language-teaching contract for a translator.
- File early and keep records: submit through e-FRRO at least three to four weeks before expiry, save every upload, and watch for an MHA notification.
Use our FRRO registration checker to confirm registration requirements, the FRRO office finder to identify your jurisdictional office, and our FRRO visa extension guide for the filing itself.
Managing several foreign employees?
Email us your list of upcoming extensions. We will flag the files at risk and help your HR team fix them before the deadline.
Employment Visa Salary Threshold: Illustrative Scenarios
The scenarios below show how the Employment Visa salary threshold plays out in typical situations.
These scenarios are illustrative examples built to explain the rules. They are not Fargo Worldwide client cases or testimonials.
Scenario 1: Plant engineer at ₹19.5 lakh, extension due in February 2027
A Korean engineer at a manufacturing plant in Greater Noida earns ₹19.5 lakh gross. That was comfortably above ₹16.25 lakh when hired, but it falls short of the reported ₹24 lakh. The employer should decide now whether to revise the salary, issue an addendum and run at least one payroll cycle before filing the extension.
Scenario 2: New offer drafted at ₹22 lakh in November 2026
A Gurugram technology company is about to send an offer at ₹22 lakh. The visa may well be issued abroad if the Mission still applies ₹16.25 lakh, but the employee's first extension will be filed in India. Pricing the offer at ₹24 lakh or more now avoids a forced renegotiation later.
Scenario 3: Japanese language teacher at ₹8 lakh
A language institute employs a Japanese national to teach Japanese. As a teacher of a language other than English, she falls within the exemption. If the same person were hired to teach engineering in Japanese, the exemption would not apply.
Scenario 4: Foreign spouse of an Indian citizen earning ₹6 lakh
A British national married to an Indian citizen takes up a job paying ₹6 lakh. If he is not an OCI cardholder, the ₹3.60 lakh floor applies rather than the general threshold. If he later obtains an OCI card, he would not need an Employment Visa for most private-sector jobs.
Scenario 5: Assistant Professor at an IIT
A foreign national joins an IIT as an Assistant Professor. The lower ₹9.10 lakh floor for faculty at central higher-education institutions applies. The institute should confirm the current position with the FRRO before the first extension, because the October 2026 reports do not address faculty.
Common Mistakes That Cause Queries or Rejections
Most problems with the Employment Visa salary threshold come from paperwork, not from the salary itself.
- Quoting salary in foreign currency, so the rupee value drifts below the threshold.
- Counting net instead of gross pay, or the reverse when presenting payslips.
- Counting reimbursements or one-time bonuses to reach the figure.
- Mismatched documents: a contract that does not match payslips, Form 16 or the tax return.
- Paying salary to a Business Visa holder, which is not permitted under any salary level.
- Assuming an exemption applies without checking the fine print.
- Starting too late to revise salary before the extension deadline.
How Fargo Worldwide Helps Employers With Employment Visa Salary Compliance
Fargo Worldwide (OPC) Private Limited is a private immigration consultancy based in Gurugram. We help companies and foreign employees prepare and file Employment Visa registration and extension applications across India. Our support includes:
- Reviewing contracts, payslips and tax documents against the current salary position before you file.
- Flagging employees who may fall below the threshold at their next extension.
- Preparing and filing Employment Visa extensions and registrations on e-FRRO.
- Drafting request, justification and undertaking letters, and responding to FRRO queries.
- Tracking visa and registration expiry dates for teams of foreign employees.
- Handling urgent cases, including Exit Permits.
Our full Employment Visa India guide covers registration, extension documents and visas for dependants, including the Entry (X) Visa.
Fargo Worldwide is not affiliated with the Government of India, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bureau of Immigration or any FRRO. We do not guarantee approvals or processing times. Final decisions rest with the authorities. For contract and tax structuring, work with your legal and tax advisers alongside us.
Need help with an Employment Visa extension or FRRO query?
Speak to our team in Gurugram. We assist employers and foreign employees with Employment Visa registrations, extensions and FRRO queries across India.
WhatsApp +91-8595431267 Contact us support@fargoworldwide.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary for an Employment Visa in India in 2026?
The published minimum is a gross salary above ₹16.25 lakh per year. Since mid-October 2026, FRROs have reportedly applied ₹24 lakh to new applications and renewals filed in India, though MHA has not notified the change.
Has the Employment Visa salary threshold officially increased to ₹24 lakh?
Not formally. Fragomen reported the change on 16 October 2026 based on FRRO endorsements and verbal confirmation, but no MHA notification has been published as of 6 November 2026.
Is the threshold USD 25,000 or ₹16.25 lakh?
The threshold started at USD 25,000 in 2010. Current Indian Mission guidance states it in rupees as a gross salary above ₹16.25 lakh. Rupee conversions of USD 25,000 are not the official figure.
Does the salary threshold apply to Employment Visa extensions?
Yes. The salary is checked again when an extension is filed through e-FRRO, and the reported ₹24 lakh figure applies specifically to renewals filed in India.
Is the threshold based on gross or net salary?
Gross salary. Mission guidance refers to a gross salary in excess of the floor, which means pay before tax and other deductions.
Do allowances and company accommodation count towards the threshold?
Fixed allowances that form part of the contracted gross salary generally count. Accommodation and other perquisites are often treated as part of the package, but official guidance does not list components, so confirm with the FRRO before relying on them.
Do bonuses count towards the Employment Visa minimum salary?
Do not rely on variable or one-time bonuses. Present a guaranteed gross figure that clears the threshold on its own.
Can part of the salary be paid outside India?
Published guidance does not address split payroll. If any pay is delivered abroad, the Indian contract should still state the full gross amount and tax records should match. Confirm with the FRRO before filing.
Who is exempt from the Employment Visa salary threshold?
Ethnic cooks employed by foreign Missions, teachers of languages other than English and translators, foreign artistes on performance contracts, and coaches of national, state or reputed club teams.
What is the minimum salary for foreign faculty in India?
Foreign faculty at Assistant Professor level and above in central higher-education institutions have a lower floor of ₹9.10 lakh per year, set in February 2017.
What is the minimum salary for a foreign spouse of an Indian citizen?
Spouses and children of Indian citizens, PIOs or OCI cardholders, and persons of Indian origin, have a floor of ₹3.60 lakh per year, provided they are not OCI cardholders themselves.
Do OCI cardholders need to meet the salary threshold?
Generally no. OCI cardholders can take up most private-sector employment without an Employment Visa, so the salary floor does not apply. Some activities still need special permission.
Can someone work in India on a Business Visa if their salary is below the threshold?
No. A Business Visa does not permit drawing a salary from an Indian company at any salary level, and official guidance says it cannot be converted into an Employment Visa in India.
What should an employer do if a foreign employee earns less than ₹24 lakh?
Review the case at least 60 days before visa expiry. Revise the salary through a dated addendum, run the new figure through payroll, and confirm whether an exemption or lower floor applies.
Does the salary threshold apply to dependants of Employment Visa holders?
No. Spouses and children travel on dependant visas linked to the main Employment Visa holder and are not assessed against the salary threshold. A dependant who wants to work needs their own Employment Visa.
Can an NGO pay a foreign volunteer?
A foreign national doing honorary work with an NGO registered in India can receive an Employment Visa and an honorarium of up to ₹10,000 per month.
Does Fargo Worldwide guarantee Employment Visa approval?
No. Fargo Worldwide is a private consultancy. We prepare and review applications carefully, but approval and timelines are decided by the Indian Mission, MHA and the FRRO.
Key Takeaways on the Employment Visa Salary Threshold
- The published Employment Visa salary threshold is a gross salary above ₹16.25 lakh per year.
- Since mid-October 2026, ₹24 lakh has reportedly been applied to new applications and renewals filed in India, without an MHA notification yet.
- Four categories are fully exempt, and faculty, PIOs and spouses of Indian citizens have lower floors.
- Extensions are where the risk shows up. Review salaries at least 60 days before expiry.
- Keep contracts, payslips, Form 16 and tax returns consistent, and state salary in rupees.
The Employment Visa salary threshold is in transition, and the safest course for any employer is to plan at ₹24 lakh while watching for an official notice. If you would like a second pair of eyes on your upcoming extensions, contact Fargo Worldwide and we will review them with you.
Sources and References
- Consulate General of India, San Francisco: Employment Visa (salary floor, exemptions, ₹3.60 lakh and NGO provisions; checked 6 November 2026)
- Lok Sabha answer by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Employment Visa guidelines (USD 25,000 floor and original exemptions)
- PTI via Business Standard: Govt lowers threshold salary for work visa to foreign faculty (February 2017)
- Fragomen: India minimum salary level for Employment Visas significantly increased (16 October 2026)
- India Visa Application Centre, China: Employment Visa (contract requirements; no conversion from Business Visa)
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, e-FRRO portal and Indian Visa Online
Disclaimer: This article is general information about Indian immigration practice as of 6 November 2026. It is not legal advice. Rules and their application can change without notice, and the ₹24 lakh figure has not been formally notified. Confirm your position with the Indian Mission or your jurisdictional FRRO before acting. Fargo Worldwide is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with the Government of India or any FRRO.