British citizens who intend to move to India from UK will need to apply for a long-term visa. Living in India will include not only obtaining the right type of visa, but also subsequent changes for securing healthcare, accommodation, or issues regarding one’s driver’s license.
Working with our team of immigration lawyers in India will help you during the transition process. This will allow you to rest assured that you have reliable assistance for all of the issues you will need to sort after you arrive in the country.
This article briefly lists the steps for obtaining the visa and the residency status. Each case is different, therefore we encourage you to reach out to us in order to receive personalized information depending on your work status, and the situation of your family who is joining you, if applicable.
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Becoming an Indian resident
When one chooses to relocate to India from UK, the first step is to obtain temporary residence, followed by permanent residence. The motive for the relocation will influence the application for the residence permit, meaning that it will dictate the documents that will be required.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Existence of special conditions for UK Nationals (YES/NO) |
NO, except for UK nationals of Indian origin who can apply for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. |
|
Visa-free travel |
Only Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders can enter India without a visa. |
|
Types of available visas in India |
– employment visa, – business visa, – tourism visa, – student visa, – medical visa, etc. |
| Time frame for obtaining visa |
4 – 10 business days (approx.) |
| Passport validity |
At least 6 months beyond your arrival date in India |
| Maximum duration of visas |
Depends on visa type, from 15 days – 5 years |
| Registration with authorities |
If you plan to stay in India for more than 180 days, you must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. |
| Employment visa eligibility |
Be a highly skilled or qualified professional in specific work areas; Provide proof of an employment contract; The annual income must exceed USD 25,000 (in most cases). |
| Investment criteria for permanent residency |
10 million rupees within 18 months OR 25 million rupees within 36 months; Create at least 20 jobs for Indian residents each year. |
| Permanent Residency Status (PRS) |
Valid for 10 years, renewable for another 10 years. |
| Residency requirement for obtaining citizenship |
Live in India 11 out of the 14 years before applying for citizenship. |
| Dual citizenship allowed (YES/NO) |
NO |
| Tax residency in India |
Either follows the 182-day or 60-day rule; Our lawyers can explain more about tax residency. |
| Healthcare registration |
UK citizens need to register with local healthcare providers in India. |
| Marrying an Indian citizen |
If the marriage lasted for at least two years, you can apply to become an OCI cardholder. |
| Assistance | Our law firm can help UK citizens to apply for visas or to obtain residency or citizenship. |
The following types of visas are awarded for those who immigrate to India from UK, based on the reason for their relocation:
- Business: issued for 5 years, subject to documents that prove the investment; for example, company-related documents;
- Employment: valid for 1 year or for the duration of the employment agreement; this document is provided as proof upon application; subject to terms and conditions;
- Student: issued for the duration of the course or for a period of 5 years; proof of admission to the Indian educational institution is needed;
- Others: the visa for foreigners of Indian origin, issued for a period of 5 years.
You can reach out to our attorneys in India for a complete list of the documents that are required in each of these cases. A special permanent residency status can be granted to investors who make a minimum investment in a specified period of time. The permanent residence permit is issued for 10 years in this case.
Every foreigner entering India based on a long-term entry visa will be required to register with a corresponding Foreigner Registration Office (FRO). When this step takes place, the UK national (and all other foreign nationals) will be asked to provide adequate information. Our team can give you more information about the steps needed to obtain residence in India.
Our team can give you complete details about the mandatory registrations with the Indian authorities, after your arrival in the country.
British nationals who are interested in India immigration should know that they can apply for citizenship by naturalization after a period of twelve years in the country. Individuals of Indian origin can acquire citizenship within seven years.
Moving to India from the UK for work
If you are moving to India from UK for work, you must know that there are two main types of work visas available in the country:
- Business Visa (B Visa): For business-related activities;
- Employment Visa (E Visa): For employment purposes.
For the Business Visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- Present a valid travel document;
- Provide proof of sufficient financial means to travel to India;
- Demonstrate the purpose of your business visit to India.
Please note this type of visa is not for full-time employment in India. It is suitable for those relocating to India from UK to invest or to buy or sell any commercial products. It is also granted to those who participate in various business discussions. The Business Visa is valid for up to five years, with each stay limited to a maximum stay of 6 months. Our Indian attorneys can help those applying for the Business Visa.
If you are immigrating to India from UK for full-time employment you must apply for an E Visa. Additionally, you must also:
- Be a highly skilled or qualified professional in certain work areas;
- Show proof of employment contract;
- Earn more than USD 25,000 per year (some jobs are exempt from this requirement).
This visa is not granted for jobs where qualified Indian candidates are available. It can be granted to self-employed individuals working in fields like engineering, medicine, accounting, or law.
The Employment Visa’s validity varies depending on the type of employment, ranging from 180 days to up to five years. Our Indian lawyers can help you to apply for a work visa.
We can also assist you if you wish to know more details about Indian citizenship.
Permanent residency by investment in India
Some individuals can move to India from UK permanently if they make an investment under the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route. The investment requirements are the following:
- 10 million rupees (approximately USD 120,000) within 18 months;
- 25 million rupees (approximately USD 300,000) within 36 months.
The investment must create at least 20 jobs for Indian residents each year. An auditor must confirm this requirement.
Investors will be initially granted a special type of Business Visa, valid for 18 or 36 months, depending on the investment amount. It does not require registration with FRO. The investor can also bring his/her spouse and dependents on this visa.
After meeting investment and employment conditions, the investor will obtain the Permanent Residency Status (PRS). It is granted for 10 years with multiple entries and can be renewed for another 10 years. The permanent residency status in India can lead to citizenship in some cases.
If you wish to invest and relocate to India from UK, our team can help you with further details about PRS.
FAQ on moving to India
The team of immigration experts at our law firm in India answers a number of common questions below. Please feel free to contact us if you wish to know more.
How will I be taxed in India?
Individuals are taxed based on their residential status, which is determined for each tax year. Two types of residency are considered for this purpose: resident and ordinarily resident, as well as resident but not ordinarily resident. The other category, non-resident in India is not a category that is commonly applicable to those who with to immigrate to India from UK as these individuals will seek to ordinarily reside in the country, and thus be subject to taxation.
What do I need to do regarding healthcare?
When you relocate to India from UK you will need to notify your general practitioner. This will also mean that you will be removed from the NHS register.
The healthcare system in India is a multi-payer model and it is universally available to all individuals, however, one should be mindful of the discrepancies that exist between the public and the private healthcare sector. As a foreigner immigrating to India from Great Britain, one will turn to private healthcare providers.
Can I still claim benefits if I move to India from UK?
Some benefits remain available for those who relocate to India from UK. One example is the state pension a UK national is entitled to abroad if he or she has paid sufficient UK national insurance contributions to qualify and receive the pension. One important issue to note is that the individual needs to be within 4 months of the state pension age in order to be able to claim this benefit.
Statistics about immigration in India
Our immigration specialists in India have gathered some interesting statistics on this subject:
- In 2022, over 30,000 foreigners were studying in India;
- In 2023, India experienced a negative net migration of 486,000 people;
- In 2020, there were approximately 4.5 million immigrants in India.
We also assist citizens of other countries who are interested in immigration to India. If you are not a UK citizen but need assistance with residency or citizenship in India, our team can answer your questions.
If you want to immigrate to India from UK, you can contact our team of lawyers. We provide complete assistance, both during the residence permit application phase and after you arrive in the country.