DPIIT Introduces Digital Sponsorship Module for e-B4 Visa to Boost Ease of Doing Business

On 17-12-2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (‘DPIIT’) announced the launch of an online module for Indian companies to generate sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals under the e-Production Investment Business Visa (‘e-B4 Visa’).

Background:

This step addresses long-standing challenges in in employment visa, business visa and e-Production Linked Incentive (‘PLI’) business and aims to simplify entry for foreign technical experts. Ministry of Home Affairs in August this year issued a circular addressing these challenges. Two activities previously under employment visas: foreign nationals visiting India for installation and commissioning of equipment, have now been moved to the business visa regime.

To further simplify processes, a new sub-category called Production Investment Visa (B-4 Visa) was introduced under the business visa framework. This enables foreign specialists, engineers, and technical experts to participate in activities such as:

• Installation and commissioning

• Quality checks and essential maintenance

• Production operations

• IT and ERP ramp-up

• Training programs

• Supply chain development

• Plant design and setup

• Senior management visits

The earlier e-PLI business visa was discontinued, and relevant amendments were made to the Visa Manual, 2019.

Key Takeaways:

1. E-B4 Visa is a government initiative that aims to enhance the ease of doing business and streamline the visa process for foreign experts.

2. This Production Investment Visa will be issued as an e-visa after online application to the Visa portal.

3. DPIIT has launched a digital sponsorship letter generation module on the National Single Window System to ensure visa application of e-B4.

4. This module allows Indian companies and LLPs to instantly generate sponsorship letters for inviting foreign professionals.

5. DPIIT launched e-Production Investment Business (‘e-B4 Visa’) on 29-11-2025, is available to both PLI scheme participants and non-PLI businesses.

6. Key features of e-B4 Visa include:

   • Auto-population of data and authentication via existing databases of MCA and GSTN.

   • No requirement for line ministry approval.

   • Integration with the e-Visa portal through API, ensuring a seamless process.

   • Each sponsorship letter carries a unique ID, which foreign professionals will have to refer while applying for the visa.