Have you decided to leave Switzerland and are considering a move to India? From previous changes of residence, you probably know that this involves many challenges. However, a move to a distant foreign country naturally involves much more effort than one within Switzerland.
We are sure that you have not made this decision spontaneously, but have given it a lot of thought beforehand. Nevertheless, it is important that you prepare yourself sufficiently for this project.
With this article we would like to support you in your move to India. This way, you will not face unexpected challenges in your venture. In this blog post, we will tell you what you need to know when emigrating to India.
Why moving to India is worth it
India is a country full of contrasts. The country is extremely advanced mainly in the IT sector. At the same time, India has a high level of poverty. In addition, the culture is so diverse and India looks back on an eventful history. Few other countries can boast as much cultural history and delicious dishes as India. Especially Bollywood has helped India to a high reputation also in the western world.
We would like to emphasize the mentality of the Indians. They are extremely warm-hearted. Especially the family has a high value for the locals. With the English language you can get by without any problems. Only in Northern India it is an advantage if you speak Hindi.
Interesting cities to live in after your move to India
It is difficult to decide where to live in India. Additionally, we can hardly go into all the potential new home cities you can choose. That’s why in this post, we’ll focus on the cities that most expatriates move to.
Bangalore
Bangalore is unofficially known as India’s Silicon Valley. If you know your way around the IT field, you won’t have any problems finding a job here. In addition, you will find numerous beautiful parks in Bangalore. Especially in the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden you can get very close to nature.
Goa
In Goa you can escape the otherwise hectic city life of India. This is just one of the many reasons why so many people move to this city. Goa’s special features include its beaches, where parties are held regularly, and the nearby Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Mumbai
Mumbai is a popular location primarily for entrepreneurs and start-ups. In addition, the city is extremely modern and offers excellent public transportation infrastructure. However, you should keep in mind that trains here are often quite crowded.
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine is so well known that we certainly do not need to introduce it. After all, there are a number of Indian restaurants in Switzerland that will introduce you to their local cuisine. Nevertheless, eating in India will grant you some surprises, because many dishes in restaurants in Switzerland are adapted to our taste.
If you can’t make up your mind, that’s not a problem. Then just order a thali, this is India’s typical lunch menu. You can order it in just about any restaurant in India.
At a thali you will be served several bowls of rice, different curries and chapati. This gives you the opportunity to try several Indian specialties at once.
The right visa for your move to India
India has quite complicated immigration regulations. This ensures that the country is not a typical immigration country. You will have the easiest time if you only enter India as a tourist. To live there for a longer period of time requires much more effort. We present you the individual visas you can apply for India.
Tourist visa
The tourist visa will be of secondary importance for you if you want to have a permanent residence in India. But if you want to live there “on a trial basis” for the time being, it is perfectly sufficient. Only you are not allowed to work with it.
To apply for a tourist visa, you must visit the Indian Embassy in Switzerland. This is located in Bern at the following address:
Kirchenfeldstrasse 28, 3005 Bern
The visa is affixed to your passport and is valid for 365 days. However, you are only allowed to stay in India for 180 days at a time. If you want to use the whole 365 days, you have to leave the country for at least 24 hours in between and then re-enter.
When entering the country, you should be able to prove that you can leave India again. The easiest way to do this is if you already have a ticket for a return or onward flight with you. Often you even have to show it at the check-in at the airport.
Business visa
For business travelers, the business visa is of primary interest. It is valid for up to one year and costs about 120 CHF. A longer stay between 1 and 5 years is also possible. The fee for this is about 250 CHF. In addition, there are other costs such as a consular surcharge.
In order to obtain a business visa at all, you also need a letter of invitation from an Indian company.
Work Visa
If you want to work in India, you will definitely need a work visa. The price varies depending on the length of validity.
For a stay of maximum 6 months you will pay 114 CHF, for a validity of 6 months to 1 year you will pay 190 CHF. For a duration of 1 to 5 years you will have to pay 285 CHF.
To apply for the work visa, you must prove that you are employed in India. Ideally, you should take your employment contract with you for the application.
Now you know what to expect when moving to India. You know the most popular cities for expatriates to make a new home there, as well as which visa you will need.
Do you still have further questions? Then feel free to send us a message. We will assist you to the best of our ability and help you with your move to India.