Corporate & business travel
Business travel to India
The visa, the etiquette and the logistics — a practical guide from a New Delhi DMC that handles corporate ground arrangements every week, plus how to turn a business trip into an India experience.
Updated · Written by the Era Tours team, New Delhi
Business travel to India is straightforward once the essentials are handled: the right visa, an understanding of local etiquette, reliable ground transport, and hotels in the right part of the right city. We've looked after corporate visitors and delegations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and beyond since 1997 — this is the operator's brief on arriving prepared, being effective in the room, and, if you have a day or two spare, seeing something of the country.
The business visa
For meetings, conferences, contract discussions or exploring opportunities, you need an Indian business visa, not a tourist visa. India's e-Business Visa is applied for online in advance through the official Indian government e-Visa portal and is generally issued for one year with multiple entries, subject to a maximum stay per visit and to terms that vary by nationality. You'll usually be asked for a business justification — an invitation letter from the Indian company you're dealing with, or details of your own firm. Fees vary by passport (often around US$80–100 plus a bank charge) and processing is typically a few business days. Rules change, so treat the official portal as the single source of truth and apply at least a week ahead. Our dedicated India business visa page covers costs, documents and timings in detail, and the full India visa guide walks through the e-Visa process step by step.
Etiquette in the room
Indian business runs on relationships as much as spreadsheets. Meetings usually open with genuine warmth and a little small talk — accept the tea, ask about the journey — before turning to business; jumping straight to the deal can read as cold. Hierarchy matters: greet the most senior person first, and understand that a decision may need several stakeholders and more time than you're used to. A handshake is standard, a namaste always welcome. Present and receive business cards with a moment of attention rather than pocketing them instantly. Punctuality from you is appreciated even where local schedules run flexibly. Above all, patience and courtesy compound — the relationship you build on this trip is the real asset.
What to wear & pack
Dress conservatively and professionally. For men, a suit or formal shirt and trousers; for women, a suit, trouser suit or modest formal dress. India is hot for much of the year, so pack lightweight, breathable formalwear — but offices, cars and restaurants are fiercely air-conditioned, so carry a layer. Beyond the wardrobe: a universal plug adapter (India runs 220 V, round pins), a local eSIM or roaming plan, printed copies of your visa and invitation letter, business cards (plenty), any prescription medicines in your carry-on, and hand sanitiser and a reusable water bottle for sealed/filtered water. If you're travelling in winter, the north (Delhi included) can be genuinely cold in the mornings from December to February.
Getting around & where to stay
India's traffic is not the place to improvise. For business visitors we strongly recommend a car with a professional driver for the duration — it is punctual, safe, and lets you work or take calls between meetings, rather than gambling on street taxis. We position you in the right district for your schedule: Aerocity or Gurugram for Delhi-NCR corporates and quick airport access; Nariman Point, BKC or Andheri for Mumbai depending on whether your meetings are finance or media/tech; the CBD or Whitefield/ORR for Bengaluru; HITEC City for Hyderabad. International-standard hotels in every hub offer proper business facilities, and we hold rates with many of them. We can also arrange meeting rooms, interpreters and secretarial support where a programme needs it.
Corporate ground logistics, handled
For companies sending several people, or running an event, the value of a single accountable partner on the ground is enormous. As a Ministry of Tourism–approved DMC and ICPB member, we manage the whole ground operation: airport meet-and-greet, transfers, hotel blocks and rooming lists, inter-city movement, and a dedicated on-site coordinator so your team simply arrives and works. For full meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, see our MICE services and incentive travel pages; for how a managed programme works, see corporate travel management in India; and for dedicated corporate travel programmes our sister brand Era Business Links runs a specialist team.
Turn the trip into an experience
A long-haul flight deserves more than a conference room. If your schedule leaves a spare day or a weekend, we build a leisure extension around it. From Delhi, the Golden Triangle puts the Taj Mahal within reach in as little as two days; Mumbai opens up Rajasthan; Bengaluru is the gateway to Kerala. For senior executives and incentive winners, our luxury India tours add private guides and palace-class hotels. Tell us the meeting dates and we'll design the rest around them.
One accountable partner on the ground
From a single executive to a full delegation, we own the India logistics so your people can focus on the work — and on the country, if there’s time.
Right district, right hotel
Positioned for your meetings, with business-grade hotels we hold rates with.
Punctual private transport
A professional driver for the duration — work between meetings, never gamble on traffic.
Leisure built around work
A spare day becomes the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan or Kerala — fully arranged.
FAQ
Business travel to India — frequently asked questions
Yes — to attend meetings, conferences, negotiations or to explore business opportunities in India, most foreign nationals need an Indian business visa rather than a tourist visa. India offers a convenient e-Business Visa applied for online in advance; it is typically issued for one year with multiple entries and a maximum stay per visit, though terms vary by nationality. Apply only through the official government portal and carry a printed approval — see our full India visa guide for the process.
The India e-Business Visa fee varies by nationality and validity — commonly in the region of US$80–100 plus a small bank charge, with reduced or waived fees for some countries — and the official portal shows the exact fee for your passport before you pay. Processing is usually a few business days (often 72 hours), so apply at least a week ahead. Fees and processing times change, so always confirm on the official Indian government visa website at the time you apply.
Business attire in India leans conservative and professional: a suit or a shirt with formal trousers for men, and a suit, trouser suit, or modest formal dress for women. In peak summer, lightweight fabrics are sensible given the heat, but Indian offices are heavily air-conditioned, so bring a layer. First meetings tend to be more formal; dress codes relax as relationships develop. Modesty is appreciated across the board.
Indian business culture values relationships, hierarchy and courtesy. Expect meetings to open with warmth and small talk before business; a handshake is standard, though some prefer a namaste. Titles and seniority matter, so greet the most senior person first, present business cards with a degree of respect, and be patient — decisions can involve several stakeholders and more time than in some Western markets. Punctuality is appreciated from visitors even where local timekeeping is flexible.
India’s principal business hubs are Delhi NCR (Gurugram and Noida) for corporates and government, Mumbai for finance and media, Bengaluru for technology, Hyderabad and Pune for IT and manufacturing, and Chennai for automotive and industry. Each has strong international connectivity, international-standard hotels and dedicated business districts. We arrange ground logistics — transfers, hotels and meeting support — in all of them.
Absolutely, and it is one of the best ways to use a long-haul trip. A business visit to Delhi pairs naturally with the Golden Triangle (Agra’s Taj Mahal and Jaipur), while Mumbai opens up Rajasthan or Kerala, and Bengaluru is a gateway to the south. We build these leisure extensions around your meeting schedule so a spare weekend becomes a genuine India experience, fully arranged and privately guided.
Coming to India on business?
Share your meeting city and dates and our Delhi team will arrange transport, hotels and — if you have time — a leisure extension. For team travel and events, Era Business Links is ready to help.