India has moved to ease a long-standing operational bottleneck for manufacturers by rolling out a simplified visa framework that makes it easier for companies to recruit foreign engineers and technical specialists for critical production work such as machinery installation, commissioning, training and plant design.
The changes are expected to particularly benefit domestic manufacturers that import specialised equipment and depend on overseas experts to set up, operate and scale their systems. In recent months, several companies had flagged delays in securing visas—especially for Chinese professionals—whose technical support was essential for running projects, PTI reported.
Online module launched on NSWS
As part of the overhaul, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has introduced a digital facility that allows Indian companies to generate sponsorship letters online for inviting foreign professionals under the e-Production Investment Business Visa, also known as the e-B-4 Visa.
The module went live on November 29 on the National Single Window System (NSWS). DPIIT said the initiative is aimed at simplifying business visa procedures and improving India’s ease-of-doing-business environment.
Officials acknowledged that the earlier approval process was slow and layered, often delaying time-sensitive manufacturing projects. “The time taken to grant visas will be significantly shorter now,” an official said.
So far, 129 sponsorship letters have already been generated through the platform. These will be used by foreign professionals to apply for visas and travel to Indian manufacturing units to carry out assigned work.
Officials noted that while foreign business visitors had always been coming to India, the revised framework brings greater clarity and consistency. “The visa process has now been streamlined and is much more structured,” the official added.
Importantly, the facility is available not only to companies covered under production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, but also to firms outside the PLI framework.
Policy shift under MHA circular
The reforms follow a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) circular issued in August 2025, which addressed ambiguities around employment visas, business visas and the earlier e-PLI business visa category.
Under the revised approach, two activities earlier treated as employment visas—foreign nationals visiting India for installation and commissioning of equipment under supply contracts, and those receiving fees or royalties from Indian companies—have now been brought under the business visa framework.
“Further, a new sub-category of Production Investment Visa has been created under the Business Visa regime and called the B-4 Visa for enabling foreign subject matter specialists, engineers and technical professionals to be engaged by Indian companies,” DPIIT said.
Scope of the B-4 Visa
Professionals entering India under the B-4 Visa can participate in a wide range of production-linked activities, including equipment installation and commissioning, quality inspections, essential maintenance, production support, IT ramp-up, workforce training, vendor development for supply chains, plant design and commissioning. The visa also covers visits by senior executives for production investment purposes.
DPIIT confirmed that the earlier e-PLI business visa category has been scrapped. Under the new system, the Production Investment Visa will be issued as an e-visa through the central visa portal, with Indian companies required to first generate sponsorship letters digitally via the NSWS module.
The department said the overall process has been simplified through shorter application forms and the removal of mandatory recommendations from line ministries—steps expected to significantly reduce delays and help manufacturers execute projects faster.
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