The number of foreign expatriates living and working in India has been on the increase significantly in recent years as a result of the booming Indian economy and the country’s desire and requirement for qualified professionals in the banking, financial services and IT industries especially. 

There has also been a steady inward flow of foreign nationals travelling around India and remaining in the country for extended periods of time and both groups of people have something in common in that they bring their international influences to bear in India and at the same time they thoroughly thrive and enjoy living in a diverse, naturally beautiful and incredibly welcoming country.

The first thing to discuss is a foreigner’s visa requirement when moving to live and work in India.  Unfortunately there are no clear cut rules and regulations that apply to each and every visa applicant and it is quite simply essential to contact the nearest embassy or consulate before travelling to India.  Generally though it’s possible to enter India for up to six months on a tourist visa, business visas are available for between two and five years although Americans can get ten year business visas, and those moving to work for an international company in India will have to get a work permit and the rules pertaining to who can and cannot have a work permit and how they apply varies often.  As stated, do not travel to India or make any specific plans without first speaking to your nearest Indian consulate or embassy.

Expatriates who plan on living in India for a long time have to register with the local Foreigner’s Registration Office within six months of arrival and the process is much criticized, long, drawn out and frustrating – the best advice fellow expats give each other is to be prepared for a long wait, take a book to read and set aside a whole day to get registered.  Foreigner’s Registration Offices are in every major town and city.  The only other thing to mention is that those who reside in India for more than two years are required to undergo an AIDS test.

With all the bureaucracy out of the way the next most important thing to discuss is finding accommodation to rent or buy in India – we at EasternExplorer would always recommend that someone moving to a new country rents property for at least a few months just while they live through the initial stresses, strains, euphoria and confusion that go hand in hand with moving abroad!  It is far easier to break a rental contract and go back home or move to another country than it is to sell a property, release the capital and then move home or elsewhere after all!  Besides, there are currently restrictions on the foreign ownership of real estate in India which means that short or long term rental property will be the main options open to the majority.

For those living and working in India it’s highly likely that they will be centred around one of the main employment centres where not only has there been a boom in the number of companies and industries establishing operations and moving into brand new commercial property, but there has been a significant increase in the amount of quality residential construction taking place.  It is now possible to rent almost any standard of accommodation in India and what a person chooses will depend on their budget and personal requirements.  The deposit paid to secure a property will vary from between two months and ten months, contracts usually have an annual rate of rental increase written in to them and most contracts are valid for eleven months at a time.  Bangalore is about the most expensive place to live in India with rental rates in other cities and towns where there is a lot of employment rising all the time.

In the main employment centres the population is increasingly international, this means expatriates are highly likely to find many people from similar backgrounds with whom they can relate and actively socialize which makes living and working in India even more of an enjoyable experience.