Digital Nomad & Residency - India

India offers no digital-nomad or remote-work visa. The official e-Visa scheme has only e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical/Medical Attendant, e-Conference and (since 2024-25) e-Transit, e-Mountaineering, e-Film and e-Entry sub-categories — none cover remote work for a foreign employer.

The Employment Visa is granted only to a foreign national engaged by a company/organisation registered in India, and the salary must exceed US$25,000 per annum (≈Rs 16.25 lakh), with limited exemptions (e.g. ethnic cooks, language teachers). It is not designed for remote workers paid by overseas employers/clients.

MHA visa rules contain no freelancer or independent self-employment visa. Business Visa / e-Business Visa permit business meetings, trade and setting up ventures, but not taking up employment or routine paid work while in India.

e-Tourist Visas (valid up to 1 or 5 years, with stays capped at 90 days, or 180 days for US/Japan/UK nationals) are for tourism, casual visits and short yoga courses only; they do not authorise any work, and the e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible.

India operates no residency-by-investment or 'golden visa' programme. There is a long-term Business/Entrepreneur route for establishing an industrial or business venture, but it is not an investment-for-residency scheme.

The closest thing to permanent residency is Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) — a lifelong, multiple-entry status with broad residence/work rights — but it is restricted to persons of Indian origin and their spouses, not a general relocation route for unconnected remote workers.