India – Permits Foundation Re-Submits Proposal for Intra-Corporate Transferees, Allowing Spouses to Work
20 May 2015Permits Foundation is continuing to campaign for accompanying spouses to be allowed to work in India. Following new appointments at various levels at the Ministry of Home Affairs, the foundation has written to key decision makers to urge them to support a change to Employment Visa regulations.
The foundation’s proposal involves a new visa category for intra-company transferees (ICTs) who are assigned to work in India for up to three years (renewable for an additional two years), whereby the accompanying spouse would be allowed to take all types of legal employment and self-employment.
Permits Foundation’s campaign has been helpful in raising awareness at the Ministry of Home Affairs of the need to simplify visa norms for spouses. Following ongoing discussions with the Foreigners Division and evidence presented at a roundtable meeting of employers, the Division asked Permits Foundation to submit a proposal specifically for spouses of expatriate employees on an intra-corporate transfer.
In 2011, the Ministry of Home Affairs Foreigners Division acknowledged Permits Foundation’s concerns by allowing the spouses of ICTs to apply in India for an Employment Visa without having to return to the home country. While this was a step forward, it still falls short of the best practice in a growing number of countries that permit the spouse to take employment or self-employment for the duration of an assignment. The Indian Employment Visa is conditional upon the offer of a highly skilled job with a minimum salary of US$25,000 per year, which presents a barrier for professional spouses who may earn less, especially if they wish to take on temporary or part-time project work or self-employment. As a result, the objectives of the change in 2011 to increase attractiveness and improve acceptance of assignments in India by highly skilled resources remain unmet.
A number of international companies have written to the Foreigners Division in support of the Permits Foundation proposals.
Permits Foundation has met with the Minister of State for Home Affairs and also the Minister of State for External Affairs and with the Head of the Foreigners Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs. The proposal is under consideration.
Read more:
Letter to Minister of State, Home Affairs
Letter to Minister of State, External Affairs
Letter to Additional Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs
Letter to Joint Secretary Foreigners Division
Our latest proposal for a new visa category for intra-company transferees, allowing spouses to work
More about our campaign in India
