By Sitaram Mewati
The Embassy of India in Beijing has issued a detailed advisory updating the procedures and eligibility criteria for Chinese nationals applying for the Production Investment Business e-Visa (e-B-4) to travel to India for specified business and industrial purposes.
According to the advisory, Chinese nationals planning to visit India for production, manufacturing, and industrial activities must apply online for the e-B-4 visa. Eligible activities include installation and commissioning of equipment, quality checks and essential maintenance, production-related work, IT and ERP ramp-up, training, supply chain development for vendor empanelment, plant design and commissioning, as well as visits by senior management and executives.
The advisory further clarified that Indian companies inviting Chinese nationals under the e-B-4 category must first register on the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) National Single Window System (NSWS) portal. Registration through the ‘Business User Login’ section of the platform is mandatory. Only after successful registration can the Indian company generate a sponsorship letter with a unique number, which is compulsory for visa approval.
Applicants are required to submit their e-B-4 visa applications online via the Indian visa portal operated by the Bureau of Immigration. Mandatory documents include a copy of the passport page, the sponsorship letter, a dispatch letter from the applicant’s employer, employer proforma details, Hukou document, and a detailed resume. Only certified English-language copies are accepted.
Upon arrival, all e-B-4 visa holders must complete electronic registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days, regardless of the visa duration. The Embassy also confirmed that paper visas for this category are discontinued, and all applications must now be processed through the electronic system, in line with India’s transition to a fully digital visa framework.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
