GlobeQuest
Legal & ID🇮🇳 Delhi, India

Employment visas, e-FRRO and living across three states

India's employment visa is employer-sponsored with a minimum annual salary threshold, and registration with the FRRO within 14 days is mandatory for visas valid over 180 days. In the NCR there is an extra wrinkle: your registering authority follows your address, so living in Gurgaon or Noida rather than Delhi puts you under a different FRRO with its own processing and its own queues.

Total cost
e-FRRO registration is free for most categories but carries penalties if late. Visa fees are set by the Indian mission where you apply and vary by nationality. Rent agreement registration and stamp duty vary between Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Use the official portals for current figures.
Time needed
e-FRRO advises applying at least two weeks in advance. Delhi handles a very high volume, so leave more margin than you would elsewhere.
Validity
Registration is tied to your visa and address. Extensions, address changes and exit permits are all applied for through e-FRRO.
Verified
August 2026
High confidence·Foreign nationals moving to Delhi and the National Capital Region. Immigration is national, but which FRRO has jurisdiction over you depends on your address — and the NCR spans Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Before you start

  • An employment visa sponsored by an Indian employer, or another long-stay category
  • Proof of address in Delhi, Haryana or Uttar Pradesh, depending on where you live
  • Appointment letter and employment contract
  • Proof of annual income meeting the employment visa threshold

Step-by-step

  1. 1

    Confirm your visa category before travelling

    The employment visa requires employer sponsorship and a minimum annual salary. A business visa does not permit employment. The category cannot generally be changed from inside India.

    Via employerWho: You and your employer
  2. 2

    Work out which FRRO covers your address

    Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida fall under different registration offices. Register with the one covering where you actually live, not where you work. Getting this wrong means starting again.

    OnlineWho: YouBefore arrival if possible
  3. 3

    Register on e-FRRO within 14 days of arrival

    Mandatory for employment visas valid over 180 days. The process is fully online — application, document upload and delivery — with no agent required and usually no office visit. Apply at least two weeks before any deadline; Delhi's volume is high.

    OnlineWho: YouWithin 14 days of arrival
  4. 4

    Sort address proof first, because registration depends on it

    You need a rent agreement or equivalent before you can register, inside a 14-day window. A company guest house letter or serviced apartment documentation can bridge the gap; update the address on e-FRRO once you have a permanent lease.

    In personWho: YouWeek 1
  5. 5

    Apply for a PAN card in parallel

    The Permanent Account Number gates banking and salary. Without it, tax is deducted at a higher rate. Foreign nationals can apply online.

    OnlineWho: YouWeek 1
  6. 6

    Update e-FRRO whenever anything changes

    Address changes — including moving between Delhi and Gurgaon — visa extensions and exit permissions all run through the portal. A moved address that was never updated causes problems at renewal.

    OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

  • Passport with a valid employment visa
  • Registered rent agreement or equivalent address proof
  • Appointment letter and employment contract
  • Proof of annual income
  • Passport photographs to Indian specification

Things most newcomers don’t know

Moving from Delhi to Gurgaon changes your registering authority.

The National Capital Region crosses three states, and FRRO jurisdiction follows your residential address. A move that feels like changing neighbourhood is administratively a move between states — new registration jurisdiction, different vehicle rules, different stamp duty. Plan the move as a formal change, not a postal update.

Source: Bureau of Immigration — registration requirements

e-FRRO is fully online and agents are unnecessary.

The system was designed to be faceless, cashless and paperless, with no appointment needed unless the office calls you in. Agents advertise heavily to new arrivals in Delhi. The official portal states plainly that no facilitation by any intermediary is required.

Source: e-FRRO — about the service

The 14-day clock starts before you have a lease.

Registration requires proof of address and must happen within 14 days of arrival. Finding and registering an NCR flat in two weeks while starting a job is genuinely hard. Use employer accommodation documentation to register on time, then update.

Source: Bureau of Immigration — registration requirements

No PAN means tax deducted at a higher rate.

Indian law permits a higher withholding rate where no PAN has been furnished. For a new arrival this can noticeably reduce the first few pay packets, recoverable only by filing a return. Apply in week one.

Source: Income Tax Department

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Registering with the wrong FRRO because you used your office address rather than your home.
  • Missing the 14-day window while still in temporary accommodation.
  • Paying an agent for e-FRRO services that are free and online.
  • Moving between Delhi and Gurgaon without updating your registration.
  • Delaying the PAN application and losing income to the higher no-PAN withholding rate.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Make it your personal checklist

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Sources

Last verified August 2026. Government processes change — always confirm critical details against the official source before acting.

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