India Visa Comparison
India Tourist Visa vs Business Visa - What to Pick
An India tourist visa is for leisure, sightseeing and visiting family or friends; a business visa is for meetings, trade, conferences and setting up a business - but not salaried employment. Using the wrong type can cause refusal at entry. For a single leisure trip, choose the e-Tourist; for business activity, choose the e-Business.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Tourist Visa | Business Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Leisure, sightseeing, visiting family/friends | Meetings, trade, conferences, business setup |
| Employment | Not allowed | Not allowed (use Employment visa) |
| Validity | 30 days, 1 year, 5 years | 1 year (e-Business) |
| Entry | Double / multiple | Multiple |
| Key document | Standard passport + photo | Business card or Indian host invitation |
Verdict
Pick the tourist visa for leisure and family visits; pick the business visa when your trip involves commercial activity. Both prohibit salaried employment in India.
Frequently asked questions
Can I attend a conference on a tourist visa?
A short conference may be fine on a tourist visa, but the e-Conference or e-Business visa is the correct route for formal conferences.
Can I do business meetings on a tourist visa?
Immigration expects the visa to match the purpose; use a business visa for commercial meetings.
Which is faster, tourist or business e-Visa?
Both issue in 72 hours to 4 business days; business needs an extra business document.