India Business e-Visa: Letter of Invitation Explained and Sample

India business e-Visa allows eligible foreign nationals to visit the country for business purposes. It is valid for one year. However, the continuous visit on an electronic visa shall be at most 180 days. The e-Visa for business allows multiple entries.

To get a business e-Visa, travelers need an invitation letter from an Indian organization sponsoring their visit. The letter of invitation must state why travelers are going to India and when they’ll be there and give the sponsor’s name and contact details. 

Read on to learn more about the letter of invitation for the Indian business e-Visa.

What is a Letter of Invitation

A letter of invitation for a business e-visa is a formal document from a registered company in India that invites eligible foreign nationals to visit the country for business purposes. 

It is one of the supporting documents required for applying for a business e-Visa.

Important Note

The official Government of India website for the electronic visa mentions it as an optional requirement in the "Instruction for applicants" section. 

It clearly states that a letter of invitation (if applicable) from Indian companies wishing to conduct business with the applicant may be submitted, but it’s optional.

Some items needed for a business eVisa

Passport image

Invitation letter

Valid email address

Other Requirements

The other documents required for the Indian business e-Visa are as follows:

• A scanned copy of the passport bio page
• A copy of the business card of the Indian company
• Additional documents depending on the purpose of the visit (certificates, clearances, etc.)

Purpose of Visit

A letter of invitation for the India business e-Visa (if applicable) can be submitted for the following purposes:

• to set up industrial/business venture
• sale/purchase/trade
• to attend technical/business meetings
• to recruit manpower
• to participate in exhibitions, business/trade fairs,
• to expert/specialist in connection with an ongoing project
• to conduct tours
• to deliver lecture/s under the Global Initiative for academic networks (GIAN) (an invitation letter from the host institute will be required)
• PLI/SPECS/EMC 2.0 scheme (sponsorship letter from the concerned company)
• for sports-related activity (invitation letter to foreign sports team)
• to join the vessel (sponsor letter from the Indian shipping agent)

Note:

Please note additional documents and certificates will be required depending on the type of activity selected for the electronic visa.

India’s Business eVisa enables international entrepreneurs and investors to engage in trade, consultations, and business-related activities within the country, fostering global collaborations and economic exchanges..

Instructions for the Applicants

To obtain an urgent business e-Visa, travelers must provide the company’s business card. This is necessary to demonstrate the urgency of their business e-Visa requirement. 

If required, depending on the activity selected for the business e-Visa, an individual (if applicable) must submit a letter of invitation from an Indian company. This letter should be on the company’s official stationery. It must be signed and stamped by an authorized signatory of the company.

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, a pivotal global entry point, welcomes a myriad of visitors to India each day, accommodating both tourists and business travelers. The airport is equipped with the India eVisa system for entry.

Natvisa Verifies

The Indian government’s e-Visa website does not host a sample PDF of a letter of invitation for business purposes. So, the Natvisa team emailed the India e-visa support team to ask for one.

Based on the reply, one of the following will be required:

1. Business Cards: For an Indian business e-Visa application, a business card means the company card provided to the applicant.
2. Business Invitation Letter: An invitation letter from the company in India which must include the following:

• Company information
• Company address
• Phone number of the Indian company
• Applicant’s name and designation in the letter
• Purpose of visit to India
• Duration of the visit

Sample of an Invitation Letter

Essential Elements in an Invitation Letter

The official website does not provide a sample PDF of the letter of invitation for the business electronic visa. Therefore, it is best to follow the guidelines for a regular business visa invitation letter. In most cases, the invitation letter must include the following:

• Company letterhead: It must include the Indian company’s logo.
• Date: The date when the letter is written.
• Introduction of the traveler: The letter must state the traveler’s full name and their company’s name.
• Purpose of visit: It must describe the reason for inviting the traveler, such as attending business meetings, customer visits, etc., including dates and locations in India.
• Traveler’s employment details: The invitation letter must include the traveler’s position, company name in their home country, and duration of employment.
• Field of discussion: Applicants must state the purpose of their visit.
• Primary contact in India: Provide the name, company, full address, and telephone number of the primary contact person in India.
• Accommodation details: List the hotel name and full address where the traveler will be staying.
• Financial responsibility: Confirm who will cover the expenses for travel, lodging, and boarding during the stay.
• Closing remarks: Conclude with thanks and regards, including the contact person’s name, position, and company in India.

Limitations of a Business e-Visa

The Indian business e-Visa is not suitable for all types of business travel. For example, it is not suitable for people who are planning to work in India. To go to a conference, applicants must get a 30-day valid conference e-Visa, which requires an invitation from the organizer. In this case, an invitation from the organizers is mandatory.

If applicants are unsure whether or not the business e-Visa is right for them individually, they must contact the Indian embassy or consulate in their home country.

Popular FAQs

Q: What other documents does an Indian business e-visa application require besides a passport?

Ans. Applicants must upload their business card and provide information about the Indian company they plan to work with. They also need to submit a copy of their passport bio page.

If the e-Visa is for sports-related activities, applicants should refer to the instructions for the applicant on the official webpage to see the specific list of required documents.

Q: What qualifies as a "business card" for the Indian business e-Visa application?

Ans: A business card refers to a card issued by the company where the applicants are currently employed. Applicants can also submit an invitation letter from the Indian company (if applicable) they will be working with. The letter should have the company’s details, address, and phone number in India.

Pro Tip

"Make sure your image of self is front facing and eyes are open. This will avoid delays."

-Natvisa Specialist

Conclusion

The letter of invitation for an India business e-Visa is a crucial document for anyone seeking to travel to India for business purposes. Remember, only applicants from eligible countries can apply for the business e-Visas.

Travelers must ensure the invitation letter is correctly formatted and contains all the necessary information, which is key to a smooth and successful visa application. Remember, the Indian business e-Visa is valid for multiple entries and allows a maximum stay of 180 days.

Travel Forum Case Study

Issue:

A US citizen seeking to apply for an Indian business e-Visa finds himself unable to complete the business e-Visa application.

Problem:

The applicant was unable to progress beyond the first page of the business e-Visa application on the government portal. After filling in all required fields, including passport details, birth date, and e-Visa purpose, he faced difficulty.

After completing the captcha, and clicking the "continue" button, it simply refreshed the page without any error message. The applicant could not progress to the payment page.

Attempted Solution:

• Tried different browsers: The applicant tried to use Internet Explorer and Firefox, but the issue persisted.

Possible Causes:

• Temporary website glitch: The website might be experiencing temporary glitches or server issues that are causing the application to freeze at the first page.
• Incorrect data entry: There might be errors in the data entered, such as typos or inconsistencies, causing the application to malfunction.
• Browser compatibility issues: The application might not be fully compatible with certain browsers, leading to unexpected behavior.

Recommendations:

• Retry the application at different times: Wait for a while and try again later to see if the issue is resolved.
• Clear browser cache and cookies: Clear the browser’s cache and cookies to remove any temporary data that might be interfering with the application.
• Check for browser updates: Ensure that the browser is up to date with the latest version to address any compatibility issues.
• Contact the support team or call the help line number: If the issue persists, try to contact the government helpline numbers or email them for assistance and guidance on troubleshooting the problem.

Natvisa Recommends

Natvisa is an alternative solution to the complex process of applying for an electronic visa for business in India, offering a near-perfect success rate. We provide expedited services that can help applicants with the entire application process, from filling out the forms to submitting the required documents.

With us, applicants can be confident that their visa application will be processed quickly and efficiently, ensuring that they can meet their business commitments in India.

Want to get your business e-Visa expedited? Fast-track your online visa application with Natvisa!