The Indian government in March 2017, added a new visa category – the Intern Visa. The Intern Visa is available to foreign nationals desiring to pursue internships with an educational institution, company or NGO in India. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) published detailed guidelines and criteria in relation to the issuance of the Intern Visa.
The MHA has directed Indian Posts to apply their new guidelines for Intern Visa to the issuance of visas to foreign interns who are sponsored by AIESEC. AIESEC is an independent, not-for-profit organization run by students and recent graduates of institutions with the objective of developing leadership potential of youth through volunteer experiences and professional internships. In the past, a number of foreign nationals applying for internships in India through AIESEC, have been issued Business Visas, generally for a period of year.
In light of the new MHA guidelines for Intern Visas, a candidate applying for internship in India sponsored by AIESEC, will now be issued an Intern Visa (as opposed to a Business Visa), and the eligibility criteria and other requirements governing the issuance of the Intern Visa will apply to AIESEC candidates.
Zeenat Phophalia, Esq., Senior Associate
