Before you start

An employment visa sponsored by an Indian employer, or a student visa for university entrants
Proof of address in Pune
Appointment letter and employment contract, or admission documentation
Proof of annual income meeting the employment visa threshold

Step-by-step

1
Confirm your visa category before travelling
The employment visa requires employer sponsorship and a minimum annual salary. Student visas are a separate category with their own registration requirements. Neither can generally be changed from inside India.
Via employerWho: You and your employer
2
Register on e-FRRO within 14 days of arrival
Mandatory for employment visas valid over 180 days, and student visas have their own registration obligations. Fully online through e-FRRO with no agent required.
OnlineWho: YouWithin 14 days of arrival
3
If you are a student, work through your institution
Pune's universities host large international cohorts and most have international offices that handle FRRO registration in batches. Use them — it is considerably easier than doing it alone, and they know the local office's expectations.
In personWho: You and your institution
4
Sort address proof first
Registration needs a rent agreement or equivalent, inside 14 days. Company accommodation, a hostel letter or a serviced apartment can bridge the gap; update the address on e-FRRO once you have a permanent lease.
In personWho: YouWeek 1
5
Apply for a PAN card in parallel
The Permanent Account Number gates banking and salary, and its absence means a higher rate of tax deducted. Foreign nationals can apply online.
OnlineWho: YouWeek 1
6
Update e-FRRO when your address changes
Address changes, visa extensions and exit permissions all run through the portal. An out-of-date registered address causes problems at renewal.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport with a valid employment or student visa
Registered leave-and-licence agreement or equivalent address proof
Appointment letter and employment contract, or admission and bonafide letters
Proof of annual income, for employment visas
Passport photographs to Indian specification

Things most newcomers don’t know

Pune's international student community is large and its institutions handle registration for you.

The city's universities host substantial cohorts from Africa, Iran, Central Asia and South-East Asia, and most international offices run FRRO registration as a batch service for incoming students. If you are arriving to study, this removes the hardest administrative step of your first fortnight — but you have to engage with the office rather than assuming you are on your own.

Source: community-reported

Pune's FRRO is separate from Mumbai's despite the shared state.

Maharashtra has multiple registration offices and jurisdiction follows your address. Someone moving from Mumbai to Pune within the same state is changing registering authority and must update e-FRRO accordingly.

Source: Bureau of Immigration — registration requirements

e-FRRO is fully online and agents are unnecessary.

The portal was designed to be faceless, cashless and paperless, and states explicitly that no intermediary is required.

Source: e-FRRO — about the service

No PAN means a higher rate of tax deducted at source.

Indian law permits a higher withholding rate where no PAN has been furnished, reducing early pay packets and recoverable only by filing.

Source: Income Tax Department