New Delhi: In a significant reform aimed at strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem and improving the ease of doing business, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched a digital sponsorship letter generation module for the e-Production Investment Visa (e-B4 Visa).
The newly introduced module enables Indian companies to digitally generate sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals involved in production-related activities. The initiative is part of the Government of India’s broader efforts to simplify business visa processes, reduce procedural delays, and attract global technical expertise to support domestic manufacturing and investment.
The module was launched on 29 November 2025 and is accessible through the National Single Window System (NSWS).
Background of Digital Sponsorship Letter Module
India has been undertaking a series of visa reforms to align its immigration framework with the evolving needs of global manufacturing, foreign investment, and production-linked activities.
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In August 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a circular to resolve longstanding ambiguities related to:
- Employment visas
- Business visas
- Production-linked investment activities
Several activities that were earlier categorized under employment visas—such as installation and commissioning of equipment, technical services under supply contracts, and royalty-based engagements—have now been brought under the Business Visa regime.
This rationalisation was aimed at removing compliance hurdles faced by Indian companies engaging foreign specialists for short-term, high-value technical and production roles.
Introduction of the “Production Investment Visa” (B-4 Visa)
As part of the reform process, a new sub-category under the Business Visa has been introduced, known as the “Production Investment Visa” or B-4 Visa.
The B-4 Visa allows Indian companies to engage foreign subject-matter experts and professionals for activities such as:
- Installation and commissioning of machinery
- Quality checks and essential maintenance
- IT and ERP system ramp-up
- Training of Indian personnel
- Supply chain development for empanelled vendors
- Plant design and production ramp-up
- Senior management and executive visits for production investment activities
This visa category has been designed to support production-linked investment (PLI) schemes and non-PLI manufacturing units alike.
Key Features of Digital Sponsorship Letter Module
To further streamline the visa application process, DPIIT has launched a digital sponsorship letter generation module under the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B4 Visa).
- Fully digital generation of sponsorship letters
- Available on the National Single Window System (NSWS)
- Applicable to both PLI and non-PLI companies
- Eliminates the need for line ministry approvals
- Unique ID generated for each sponsorship letter and this unique ID is referenced by foreign professionals while applying for the visa on the Indian e-Visa portal.
Auto-population of company data through integration with:
- MCA
- GSTN
Integration with National Single Window System (NSWS)
The module has been seamlessly integrated into the NSWS, which serves as a single digital interface for businesses to access government approvals and services.
By using NSWS:
- Companies can generate sponsorship letters instantly
- Data authentication is automated
- Manual documentation and verification steps are minimized
The integration ensures transparency, speed, and consistency in the sponsorship letter issuance process.
e-Visa Issuance and Ministry of Home Affairs Amendments
Under the reformed framework:
- Production Investment Visa (B-4) will be issued as an e-Visa
- Applications are processed through the Indian e-Visa portal
- The Visa Manual, 2019 has been amended to incorporate these changes
These amendments ensure that the visa regime remains aligned with India’s industrial and investment priorities.
How This Reform Benefits Indian Companies
The digital sponsorship letter module brings multiple advantages for Indian businesses:
- Faster Access to Global Expertise
- Companies can now invite foreign specialists without prolonged paperwork or approvals.
- Reduced Compliance Burden
- Simplified forms and removal of line ministry recommendations reduce administrative friction.
- Support for Manufacturing & PLI Ecosystem
- Improved Ease of Doing Business
- Digitisation enhances predictability, transparency, and speed in business operations.
