Government considering long-term visas for entrepreneurs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” project is set to get a major boost as foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up factories or other businesses and invest in India may be given “long-term visas” to allow them to remain in the country uninterrupted for at least five years.

The department of economic affairs has proposed this, and the home ministry is inclined to consider it positively.

The DEA argued that visa relaxation for foreign investors will boost investments in India as foreign investors and entrepreneurs will no longer have to face a restrictive visa regime.

At present, such entrepreneurs or investors can come to India under a business visa for a maximum of five years, but can only stay for a maximum of 180 days for each entry. If they exceed this period of 180 days, they have to report to the police for verification.

Under the proposed long-term visas, such investors and enterpreneurs will be allowed to stay uninterrupted for up to five years, sources said.

After the 26/11 attacks and the David Coleman Headley episode, where the Pakistan-American Lashkar man got a business visa to enter India along with associate Tahawwur Rana, the government tightened the visa regime, including for business visas.