Quick Answer
India has no dedicated digital nomad visa as of 2026. Remote workers use the e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) for stays up to 90 days, the e-Business Visa for certain work-related activities, or the 1-year/5-year multiple-entry tourist visas for longer stays. Working for a foreign employer while on a tourist visa is a legal grey area — technically not permitted, widely practiced, and rarely enforced. This guide explains your real options and how to stay on the right side of the line.
The Honest Visa Situation
India has been discussing a digital nomad visa for years. It has not happened yet. As of early 2026, no official remote work visa category exists. What remote workers actually use falls into three buckets.
e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) is the default for most nationalities. You apply online, pay $25–80 depending on your country, and receive approval by email within 72 hours in most cases. The e-TV allows stays of 30, 90, or 180 days depending on the variant you apply for. Double and triple-entry options exist. The 90-day e-TV is the most commonly used by nomads.
e-Business Visa allows you to attend business meetings and conferences. It does not permit earning income from Indian sources, but it is more defensible than a tourist visa if your work involves client meetings in India.
Long-term tourist visas (1 year, 5 year, 10 year) are available to citizens of certain countries including the US, UK, and Canada. Multiple-entry but typically restrict continuous stay to 180 days per visit.
What Is and Is Not Legal
Working remotely for a foreign company while in India on a tourist visa is not explicitly authorized. In practice, enforcement against individual remote workers is essentially zero — immigration officials are not checking your laptop.
The risk rises if you stay long enough to trigger tax residency (182 days or more in a financial year, April to March), if you start receiving income into an Indian bank account, or if you are working for an Indian company without the proper work visa.
The sensible approach: use the e-TV, keep your income in a foreign account — a Wise account works well — and stay under 182 days in a financial year.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
Most nationalities can obtain an Indian e-Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Apply at least 4–5 days before travel. You will need your passport bio page scan, a recent JPEG passport photo, and a return or onward ticket in many cases. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan need no visa. Pakistani nationals must apply through Indian embassies.
Visa Costs
| Visa Type | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| e-Tourist Visa (30 day) | 30 days, single entry | $10–25 |
| e-Tourist Visa (90 day) | 90 days, double entry | $25–40 |
| e-Tourist Visa (1 year) | 1 year, multiple entry | $40–80 |
| e-Business Visa | 1 year, multiple entry | $80–100 |
Tax Residency: The 182-Day Rule
Spend 182 days or more in India in a single financial year (April 1 – March 31) and you become a tax resident — your global income is theoretically taxable in India. India has DTAAs with most countries so you won't pay twice, but you may need to file and claim treaty relief. Talk to a cross-border tax professional before any stay over six months.
Practical Setup
Banking: Keep income in a foreign account. Wise works in India for daily spending. Indian banks require local address and income proof — impractical for nomads.
SIM card: Airtel or Jio at the airport. Airalo eSIM for immediate data on arrival.
Health insurance: SafetyWing covers India, $45–80/month.
VPN: NordVPN for geo-restricted content and public WiFi security.
Bottom Line
The e-Tourist Visa works fine for stays under 90 days. Practical risk of working remotely on it is low. Stay under 182 days, keep income offshore, and India is one of the best value remote work bases in Asia.
Next steps: Best SIM Cards in India | Cost of Living in Bangalore | Health Insurance in India
*Last updated: April 2026*