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Republic of India · youth mobility
India Intern Visa
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Visa for foreign nationals undertaking an internship with an Indian company, institution, NGO or media organisation.
- Processing time
- Indicative only. Apply through an Indian mission or the Indian Visa Online portal; confirm current timelines on the official page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only. Fees vary by nationality and duration; refer to the official Indian Visa Online portal.
- Typical duration
- For the period of the internship; the foreign national must exit before visa expiry.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 9 July 2026, the India Intern Visa for Republic of India is a sponsor-led India immigration route. Sources: official Republic of India government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/india/intern-visa#answer
What is the India Intern Visa in Republic of India?
India Intern Visa is a sponsor-led India route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only. Fees vary by nationality and duration; refer to the official Indian Visa Online portal; indicative processing time is Indicative only. Apply through an Indian mission or the Indian Visa Online portal; confirm current timelines on the official page; typical duration is For the period of the internship; the foreign national must exit before visa expiry. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Ministry of Home Affairs (India) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The Intern (I) Visa is granted to foreign nationals coming to India to pursue an internship, including the I-1 sub-category for internships with NGOs and educational institutions (such as AIESEC-sponsored placements) and the I-4 sub-category for internships with media organisations. The sponsoring organisation must give an undertaking ensuring the intern departs on completion, and interns must observe registration formalities after arrival.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Applicant has a confirmed internship with a qualifying Indian company, institution, NGO or media organisation.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
- ✓The sponsoring organisation provides an undertaking on the intern departure.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
- ✓The internship is genuine and time-limited.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
- ✓The applicant is not a national barred from the category.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
Common blockers
- !Applicant is a national of Pakistan, who cannot be granted an Intern Visa.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
- !No genuine internship offer from a qualifying organisation.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
- !Intending to take up regular paid employment rather than an internship.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Internship offer or invitation letter from the host organisation.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
- ·Undertaking from the organisation regarding the intern departure.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
- ·Passport valid for the required period with blank pages.Ministry of Home Affairs (India) ↗
Application pathway
Secure an internship offer
Obtain a confirmed internship with a qualifying Indian organisation and its departure undertaking.
Apply for the Intern Visa
Submit the application via the Indian Visa Online portal and the relevant Indian mission.
Travel to India
Enter within the visa validity carrying the internship documents.
Complete registration and exit on time
Observe FRRO/FRO registration formalities and leave India before the visa expires.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For India Intern Visa, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in India. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorUse official India Intern Visa route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for India Intern Visa.
Ministry of Home Affairs (India) · verified
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Frequently asked questions
Who can sponsor an India Intern Visa?+
NGOs, educational institutions (including AIESEC-sponsored placements under I-1) and media organisations (under I-4) can host internships, and the organisation must undertake to ensure the intern departs on completion.
Can a Pakistani national get an India Intern Visa?+
No. The Intern Visa is not granted to nationals of Pakistan.
Can I stay on to work in India after my internship ends?+
No. The Intern Visa is granted only for the period of the internship, the sponsoring organisation must give an undertaking ensuring you depart on completion, and you must leave India before the visa expires.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in IndiaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Ministry of Home Affairs (India)
Last checked: 1 June 2026