Why in the News?
- India has launched a new e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa) for Chinese nationals, effective January 1, 2026.
- The move is part of people-centric confidence-building measures aimed at resetting India–China relations, especially in the economic and industrial domain.
What is the e-B-4 Visa?
- The e-B-4 Visa is a specialised electronic business visa introduced by India to facilitate production-linked and investment-related business activities.
- It allows Chinese business professionals to travel to India for specific, pre-defined commercial and industrial purposes.
- The visa is fully online, eliminating the need for embassy visits or intermediaries.
Objectives of the e-B-4 Visa
- To facilitate manufacturing, industrial production, and technology-related activities in India.
- To support foreign investment and supply chain integration.
- To ease short-term professional mobility for essential business operations.
- To strengthen economic engagement between India and China while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Permitted Activities under e-B-4 Visa
The visa can be used for the following specific business activities:
- Installation and commissioning of equipment.
- Quality checks and essential maintenance operations.
- Production-related activities.
- Information Technology (IT) and ERP ramp-up.
- Training of personnel.
- Supply chain development and vendor empanelment.
- Plant design, setup, and operationalisation.
- Senior management and executive-level engagements.
Key Features of the e-B-4 Visa
- Mode: Completely online application process.
- Processing Time: Approximately 45–50 days from the date of application.
- Duration of Stay: Permission to stay in India for up to six months.
- Visa Type: Electronic business visa with activity-specific approval.
Application Mechanism of the e-B-4 Visa
- Indian Companies inviting Chinese professionals must: Register on DPIIT’s National Single Window System (NSWS) under Business User Login.
- Applicants must: Apply online through the Indian Visa Online portal under the e-Visa category administered by the Bureau of Immigration.
- Mandatory supporting documents are required at the time of application.
Institutional and Governance Linkages
- DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade): Facilitates company registration through NSWS.
- National Single Window System (NSWS): Integrates visa facilitation with broader investment approval mechanisms.
- Bureau of Immigration: Responsible for processing and issuing the e-Visa.
With reference to India’s e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa), consider the following statements:
1. The e-B-4 Visa is a fully online visa introduced to facilitate production-linked and investment-related business activities.
2. The visa permits foreign business professionals to stay in India for a maximum period of six months.
3. Registration on the National Single Window System (NSWS) is required only for visa applicants and not for Indian companies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The e-B-4 Visa is a specialised electronic business visa introduced by India to support production-linked and investment-related activities, and it follows a completely online application process.
Statement 2 is correct: The visa allows a maximum stay of up to six months in India, as specified under its key features.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Indian companies, not individual visa applicants, are required to register on DPIIT’s National Single Window System (NSWS) when inviting Chinese professionals. Applicants apply separately through the Indian Visa Online portal.
