Employment Visa or e-B-4 Visa? Bringing Foreign Engineers to India After the ₹24 Lakh Salary Rule
The e-B-4 visa is India's electronic Production Investment visa. It is a six-month, multiple-entry e-Visa that lets an Indian company bring in foreign engineers and technical specialists for installation, commissioning, production and training work without putting them on an Employment Visa. Since October 2026 it matters far more than before, because India has raised the minimum salary for Employment Visas from ₹16.25 lakh to ₹24 lakh a year. Many companies now have foreign engineers whose pay sits below the new floor.
This guide explains, in plain language, when your foreign engineer needs an Employment Visa, when the e-B-4 visa is the correct and legal route, and when neither fits. It covers the new salary rule, a side-by-side comparison, five real scenarios, the NSWS sponsorship process, and the compliance mistakes that cause problems at the FRRO.
Not on paper yet. The Ministry of Home Affairs has not published a notification. The higher figure has, however, been seen on residence permits recently issued by FRROs, and officials have confirmed it verbally. Until a notification appears, plan as if ₹24 lakh applies.
Key takeaways
- ₹24 lakh is the new Employment Visa floor, up from ₹16.25 lakh: a rise of about 47.7% and the first change since 2018. It applies to new applications and to renewals filed in India.
- The e-B-4 visa covers project-based technical work: installation and commissioning, quality checks and maintenance, production, IT and ERP ramp-up, training, vendor development, plant design and senior management for production investments.
- e-B-4 is not employment. It is valid for six months with multiple entries, cannot be extended or converted in India, and needs FRRO registration within 14 days of arrival.
- The Employment Visa is for salaried jobs with an Indian entity. It is the right route for long-term roles, and the gross salary must now meet ₹24 lakh a year.
- The wrong visa is a visa violation. Under Section 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, it can lead to up to 3 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹3 lakh, or both.
1. What changed: the ₹24 lakh Employment Visa salary rule
Since mid-October 2026, the minimum gross salary for an Employment Visa has been ₹24,00,000 a year, up from ₹16,25,000. The new figure applies to new Employment Visa applications and to Employment Visa renewals filed in India.
| Item | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum gross salary | ₹16,25,000 a year | ₹24,00,000 a year New |
| Approx. in US dollars | about US$19,500 | about US$28,800 |
| Increase | – | about 47.7% |
| Applies to | – | New Employment Visa applications and renewals filed in India |
| Official MHA notification | – | Not yet published |
| Previous revision | 2018 | October 2026 |
How the change came to light
The Ministry has not issued a notification. Global mobility firm Fragomen reported that the new threshold has appeared in endorsements on residence permits recently issued by local FRROs, and that authorities confirmed the change verbally. Vialto Partners reported the same figure for in-country visa extension applications on 5 November 2026. Some Indian mission websites abroad still show the older figure, so applications filed at an Indian embassy may be assessed differently until the notification is published.
What counts towards the salary
The threshold has always been assessed on gross annual remuneration, not just take-home cash. That means base salary plus allowances and perquisites that genuinely form part of the package, such as rent-free accommodation. Show the gross figure clearly in the appointment letter.
The old rules exempted a few narrow categories, such as ethnic cooks at foreign missions, language teachers and translators, and staff of foreign diplomatic missions. Some teaching roles also had lower thresholds. Whether these continue unchanged under the ₹24 lakh figure has not been officially confirmed.
Who is hit hardest
Mid-level engineers, technicians and supervisors whose packages were set between ₹16 lakh and ₹24 lakh. This is common for staff seconded from Korea, Japan, China and Europe to manufacturing plants in India. If one of them has a renewal due in the coming months, now is the time to decide: raise the gross package, or check whether the work actually fits the e-B-4 visa.
2. What is the e-B-4 visa?
The e-B-4 visa (officially the e-Production Investment Visa) is a sub-category of India's e-Visa. It lets any Indian-registered company sponsor foreign subject-matter specialists, engineers and technical staff for defined, production-linked work. It replaced the e-PLI visa, which only companies in government incentive schemes could use.
The Home Ministry created the B-4 category through a policy circular in August 2025. DPIIT launched the online sponsorship module on the National Single Window System (NSWS) on 17 December 2025, and the Indian Embassy in Beijing announced that the e-Visa was available from 1 January 2026. In February 2026 Fragomen confirmed that the e-Production Investment Visa had replaced the e-PLI visa and is open to all Indian companies.
Activities the e-B-4 visa covers
- Installation and commissioning of plant and machinery
- Quality checks, testing and essential maintenance
- Production operations and process optimisation
- IT systems and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) ramp-up
- Training and technical knowledge transfer
- Supply chain development and vendor empanelment
- Plant design, layout and bring-up
- Senior management and executives for production investment purposes
What moved from the Employment Visa to e-B-4
Two kinds of work that used to need an Employment Visa now fall under the e-B-4 visa:
- Installation and commissioning under a supply contract for which the Indian company pays a royalty or fee.
- Work by subject-matter specialists, engineers and technical personnel engaged by Indian companies.
e-B-4 visa at a glance
| Feature | e-B-4 visa (e-Production Investment Visa) |
|---|---|
| Format | Electronic visa only, applied for on indianvisaonline.gov.in |
| Validity and entries | 6 months, multiple entries |
| Extension or conversion in India | Not possible. Like other e-Visas, it is non-extendable and non-convertible. |
| Who sponsors | Any Indian-registered company, through a digital sponsorship letter generated on NSWS |
| Who can apply | Nationals of countries eligible for India's e-Visa |
| FRRO registration | Within 14 calendar days of arrival, whatever the length of stay |
| Employment in India | Not permitted |
| Salary threshold | None published |
| Fee | Varies by nationality and is non-refundable |
Much of the news coverage described the e-B-4 visa as a visa for Chinese nationals, because the Indian Embassy in Beijing announced it. DPIIT describes it as a route for foreign specialists, engineers and technical people engaged by Indian companies, and eligibility follows India's e-Visa country list. Engineers from Korea, Japan, Europe and elsewhere can use it if their country is on that list and the work fits.
3. Employment Visa vs e-B-4 visa: side-by-side comparison
Use an Employment Visa when the person takes a salaried job with an Indian entity. Use the e-B-4 visa when a foreign specialist comes for defined, time-bound production work and is not employed in India. A regular business visa is for meetings, negotiations and sales, not hands-on production work.
| Point | Employment Visa (E-1) | e-B-4 visa |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Salaried job with an Indian entity, including intra-company transferees | Defined production-linked technical work. No employment in India. |
| Salary rule | Gross ₹24 lakh a year or more (new rule) | None published |
| Sponsor document | Appointment letter or employment contract from the Indian employer | Digitally signed NSWS sponsorship letter with a unique reference number |
| Length | Term of the contract, extendable in India within an overall five-year cap | 6 months, multiple entries |
| Extension in India | Yes, through e-FRRO | No |
| Change of employer | Generally not permitted. A new employer needs a new visa. | Not applicable. The work must stay within the declared scope. |
| FRRO registration | Within 14 days of arrival | Within 14 days of arrival |
| Family | Spouse and children can get X (Entry) visas | No linked dependant visa. Family members apply for their own visas. |
| Where to apply | Indian mission in the home country or country of residence | Online e-Visa. No embassy visit. |
Where the regular business visa fits
A business visa covers visits such as client meetings, negotiations, sales calls, trade fairs and conferences. It does not allow employment, and it is not the right visa for hands-on production work now listed under the e-B-4 visa. Sending an engineer on a business visa "to monitor" a project while they actually commission equipment is one of the most common compliance mistakes in this market. See our business visa guide for the details.
4. Which visa does your engineer need? 5 real scenarios
Ask three questions. Will the person be employed and paid by the Indian company? How long will the work take? Is the work one of the listed production activities? The answers point to the right visa.
A Korean engineer installing a press line for 3 months
The machine was bought under a supply contract and the Indian company pays the supplier a fee for installation. This is installation and commissioning, it is time-bound, and the engineer is not taking a job in India. The e-B-4 visa fits.
A plant manager joining the Indian subsidiary for 2 years
This is a salaried, long-term role with day-to-day control of operations, so it needs an Employment Visa (E-1). The gross package must meet ₹24 lakh a year. The spouse and children apply for X visas.
A sales director visiting for a week of client meetings
Meetings, negotiations and site visits with no hands-on production work. A business or e-Business visa is the right choice.
An existing Employment Visa holder earning ₹19 lakh, renewal due in January
An in-country renewal will now be checked against ₹24 lakh. If the role is still a long-term job, the gross package needs to rise to at least that figure. An e-B-4 visa is not a way around the rule: it doesn't allow employment in India, and it can't be obtained by converting a visa inside India. Get advice well before the current visa runs out.
A commissioning job expected to take 9 months
An e-B-4 visa is valid for six months and cannot be extended. If the work clearly needs longer, plan the right long-term visa from the start rather than hoping to stretch a six-month visa.
5. How to apply for the e-B-4 visa: 6 steps
The Indian company first generates a digital sponsorship letter on NSWS. The foreign engineer then applies for the e-Visa online, quoting the letter's reference number, and registers with the FRRO within 14 days of arriving in India.
- Check the role and the nationality
Confirm that the work is on the e-B-4 activity list, that it will take no more than six months, and that the engineer's country is eligible for India's e-Visa. - Register the Indian company on NSWS
Complete the one-time registration at nsws.gov.in/evisa, then choose "Production Investment Business Registration (Indian Company)" in the NSWS marketplace. - Get the digital sponsorship letter
Submit the company details, project details and each foreign professional's details. NSWS issues a digitally signed sponsorship letter with a unique reference number. The letter is checked automatically against MCA and GSTN records. - The engineer applies for the e-Visa
On indianvisaonline.gov.in, the engineer selects the e-Production Investment Visa, quotes the reference number, and uploads the passport page, a photograph and the sponsorship letter. The fee must be paid at least 4 days before travel, but apply weeks ahead. For Chinese nationals, the Embassy in Beijing quotes 45 to 50 days. - Prepare for arrival
Carry the e-Visa approval. Complete the e-Arrival Card online within the 72 hours before landing, and any health declaration in force at the time. - Register with the FRRO within 14 days
Register on e-FRRO within 14 calendar days of arrival. Keep the work within the declared scope and leave India before the six-month validity ends.
A sponsorship letter from NSWS supports the application, but the visa is decided by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Don't book non-refundable travel until the e-Visa is granted.
6. Keeping staff on the Employment Visa? 7 checks after the ₹24 lakh rule
For long-term foreign staff, the Employment Visa is still the right route. The new salary floor means HR teams should check every package before the next extension goes in.
- Audit every foreign employee's gross package against ₹24,00,000 a year, starting with anyone whose renewal is due in the next six months.
- State the gross salary clearly in the appointment letter, in rupees, including the allowances and perquisites that genuinely form part of the package.
- Check who pays. Some Indian missions have required Employment Visa holders to be paid by the sponsoring Indian entity.
- File extensions early on e-FRRO. Don't leave them to the last weeks of the visa. Our FRRO visa extension service can handle this.
- Register new arrivals within 14 days. Missing FRRO registration is a separate violation.
- Don't switch employers on the same visa. A change of employer generally needs a new Employment Visa.
- No in-country conversions. A business or e-B-4 visa holder cannot switch to an Employment Visa inside India. They must leave and apply from their home country.
For the full process, documents and timelines, see our Employment Visa India guide. Dependants are covered in our X visa guide.
7. Red flags that lead to FRRO trouble
Most problems come from using the right visa for the wrong work. These are the patterns that draw attention at the FRRO and can lead to penalties for both the foreign national and the company.
- A salaried, long-term job on a business visa or an e-B-4 visa. If the person is effectively an employee, they need an Employment Visa.
- Scope creep on e-B-4. An engineer who drifts into managerial control, revenue-generating work or an ongoing operational role risks the visa being treated as misused.
- Missing the 14-day FRRO registration, on either visa.
- Overstaying the six months, or assuming an e-B-4 visa can be extended in India.
- Paper salaries. Inflating a salary letter to meet ₹24 lakh, or under-stating work to fit e-B-4, is misrepresentation.
- Visiting protected, restricted or cantonment areas without separate permission.
Under Section 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, staying without a valid visa or violating visa conditions can lead to imprisonment of up to 3 years, a fine of up to ₹3 lakh, or both. Overstays also attract graded fines, starting at ₹10,000 for up to 30 days. Under the e-B-4 process, responsibility for compliance rests with the sponsoring company, and its digitally verified sponsorship letter creates a traceable record.
8. e-B-4 visa and Employment Visa: FAQs
What is the e-B-4 visa?
The e-B-4 visa, officially the e-Production Investment Visa, is an Indian e-Visa for foreign specialists, engineers and technical staff sponsored by an Indian company for defined production-linked work such as installation, commissioning, quality checks, production, ERP ramp-up and training. It is valid for six months with multiple entries.
Is the e-B-4 visa only for Chinese nationals?
No. It was announced by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, but DPIIT describes it as a route for foreign specialists engaged by Indian companies, and eligibility follows India's e-Visa country list.
Does the ₹24 lakh salary rule apply to the e-B-4 visa?
No salary threshold has been published for the e-B-4 visa. The ₹24 lakh figure is an Employment Visa condition. The e-B-4 visa does not allow employment in India, so it cannot be used to get around the salary rule for a salaried job.
Can an e-B-4 visa be extended or converted to an Employment Visa in India?
No. Like other e-Visas, the e-B-4 visa cannot be extended or converted in India. A longer stay or a different purpose needs a new application under the right category, made from outside India.
How long can a foreign engineer stay on an e-B-4 visa?
The e-B-4 visa is valid for six months with multiple entries. The engineer must leave India before it expires.
Do e-B-4 visa holders need FRRO registration?
Yes. They must register with the jurisdictional FRRO within 14 calendar days of arrival, whatever the length of stay.
Is the ₹24 lakh Employment Visa salary rule official?
As of 11 November 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs has not published a notification. The figure has been applied in practice on recent FRRO residence permits and confirmed verbally by officials, so companies should plan for it.
Does the ₹24 lakh rule affect my employee's current Employment Visa?
The new figure is applied when a new Employment Visa application or an in-country renewal is filed. Check every employee's gross package before their next extension.
Can a company outside the PLI scheme sponsor an e-B-4 visa?
Yes. The e-Production Investment Visa replaced the e-PLI visa and is open to all Indian-registered companies, not only those in government incentive schemes.
How long does e-B-4 visa processing take?
For Chinese nationals, the Indian Embassy in Beijing quotes 45 to 50 days. Timelines for other nationalities vary. The fee must be paid at least 4 days before travel, but apply several weeks ahead.
Which visa is right for a one-year project in India?
The e-B-4 visa is limited to six months and cannot be extended, so work that clearly needs a year usually calls for an Employment Visa. Get advice on the specific role before you file.
9. How Fargo Worldwide helps companies with foreign engineers
Fargo Worldwide is a visa and immigration consultancy in Gurugram, Haryana. We help companies, foreign nationals and their families with visas and FRRO compliance across India.
- Visa route checks: Employment Visa, e-B-4 visa or business visa, decided before you file
- e-B-4 visa support: NSWS sponsorship, e-Visa application review and FRRO registration
- Employment Visa support: documents, salary letters and the ₹24 lakh check
- FRRO registration and extensions through e-FRRO, across Indian cities
- Dependant X visas for spouses and children
- Exit permits and compliance records for HR teams
Related guides
Final word
The ₹24 lakh rule has not made foreign engineers harder to bring in. It has made choosing the right visa more important. Long-term salaried roles belong on the Employment Visa with a compliant package. Short, defined production work belongs on the e-B-4 visa. Get the route right at the start, and the FRRO side stays simple.
Sources
- Fragomen, India: Minimum Salary Level for Employment Visas Significantly Increased (16 October 2026) and Minimum Salary Changes Announced (4 November 2026)
- Vialto Partners, Revised salary threshold for work visa holders (5 November 2026)
- Vialto Partners, Introduction of e-Production Investment Visa (e-B-4) (11 February 2026)
- Fragomen, e-Production Investment Visa Replaces e-PLI Visa (26 February 2026)
- Business Today, DPIIT launches e-B-4 module on NSWS (18 December 2025)
- India Briefing, India's e-B-4 Visa guide
- Fragomen, Visa Registration Rules and Employment Visa Categories Revised (16 June 2026)
- Fragomen, Host salary requirement for Employment Visa applicants (19 August 2022)
- Vialto Partners, Impact of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
- Bureau of Immigration, Indian Visa Online (e-Visa portal) and National Single Window System
This article is general information as of 11 November 2026 and is not legal advice. Visa rules and their application can change without notice, and the ₹24 lakh threshold has not yet been formally notified. Fargo Worldwide is an independent immigration consultancy and is not affiliated with the Government of India.