India impresses with its colours, exotic beauty, cultural diversity, smiling people, and vivid life. At the same time, every year the country becomes more promising for employment, and attracts foreign specialists, especially in the IT field. The country's economy has recovered from the pandemic and is confidently on the road to reviving. Today, many new companies are opening in India, and industry and other sectors are developing.

It is not too difficult for skilled migrant workers to find a good job in the country, but they may face certain obstacles. In particular, the government still strictly controls the situation in the field of employment of foreigners. However, by knowing the requirements for entering, staying, and working in the state, you can avoid difficulties and easily get a job. Read below how to move to India and start working there, what documents are needed, what you should do, and what conditions you should keep in mind.

What needs to be done to come to the country to get a job

Foreign nationals can look for jobs in India while staying directly in the country. But still, it is better to find a workplace first and relocate after that. You can search for vacancies on the relevant resources with announcements or the websites of Indian companies. If there is no suitable offer, contact recruitment agencies or recruiters. 

For employment in the country, foreigners must obtain a work visa and a work permit. You can deal with the preparation of documents yourself, or entrust this matter to the employer.

A work visa in India entitles foreigners to stay in the country from six months to five years. There are two main types of them:

• business visa;

• working visa.

In addition, you can choose a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, which allows you to leave the country (for example, for business or personal reasons) and return.

It should be noted that India does not issue work visas to clerical/secretarial staff or entry- and mid-level positions. On the other hand, it may be easier for developers and programmers to apply for employment in an Indian company. Since the IT field is particularly popular in the country, qualified specialists have every chance to get even a remote job.

Terms  

All foreign workers who are in India on a work visa and plan to stay for more than 6 months are required to register within 14 days of arrival. If the deadline has expired, or the registration is overdue, the person may receive a fine. Labour migrants who are going to stay in the country for more than a year must provide a medical examination report, including an HIV test from an authorized WHO centre. 

Documents required

For foreigners who entered the country on a work visa, the following documents must be submitted:

• visa and work permit;

• passport;

• four-color photos;

• proof of residence in India;

• employment contract with specified duration and amount of salary;

• a request letter from the company for registration;

• a letter of undertaking from the company, which must be signed by an authorized person from India with their name and contact information.

Usually, a typical work visa is issued for one year, but the period of stay in the country can be extended. Such applications are processed by the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Taxes

The following taxation system has been developed for foreign citizens in India:

• residents of the RNOR category pay taxes only on those incomes received in India;

• ROR residents pay taxes on income earned both in India and worldwide;

• non-residents pay taxes on income received exclusively in the territory of the country.

Work prospects

Today, there are about 30,000 - 50,000 expats working in India. The population as of 2022 is approximately 1.4 billion people. The competition in the country is huge, but despite this, it is possible to find a good job.

Most jobs are concentrated in big northern cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. There is also enough work in the metropolis of Bangalore, which is also called home to the country's high-tech industry. If you are interested in vacancies in the field of retail trade, hotel business, and art, then it is better to pay attention to coastal tourist areas.

Among the local industries where labour migrants most often work are the following:

• agriculture;

• tourism;

• hospitality business;

• construction;

• pharmaceuticals;

• car production;

• oil industry;

• business services and finance;

• food processing;

• textiles.

You can also get seasonal jobs or tutor English. However, the most popular in India remains the field of IT services, which are one of the country's largest exports.

The business language in the country is English. Therefore, there are no problems with communication at the workplace. India continues developing. Despite the fierce competition, the country promises many cool prospects for foreign workers. For many Indian companies, foreign specialists remain a priority.