The Ministry of External Affairs quietly published an update on 24 July 2026 confirming that nationals of all 48 United-Nations-designated Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) will no longer pay visa fees when applying for Indian Business or Employment visas. The measure, first discussed at the India-Africa Growth Summit in June, is now officially in force and has already been circulated to Indian embassies worldwide. The waiver covers neighbours such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal as well as key African partners including Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Applicants must still submit the usual documentation and meet immigration security checks, but the INR 12,000–45,000 government fee (USD 120–300 depending on validity) has been reduced to zero; only the INR 4,500 (USD 60) Indian Community Welfare Fund surcharge remains payable where applicable. For multinational companies the change removes a cost irritant that often deterred small suppliers and project contractors from sending staff to India. Trade bodies in Nairobi, Dhaka and Phnom Penh told Global Mobility News that the waiver will make it “materially cheaper” to send engineers and sales teams for short-term projects, especially where multiple entries over five years are required. Indian project owners, meanwhile, gain quicker access to foreign technicians at a time when infrastructure, renewable-energy and construction projects are running ahead of local staffing capacity. Practically, mobility managers should update their budgeting templates and alert third-party vendors: VFS Global and other outsourcers will continue to charge their own service fees, but the government component should no longer appear on invoices. Travellers should also be reminded that biometrics and, where relevant, Ebola Self-Declaration Forms must still be completed before departure. The fee holiday sits alongside India’s broader “Neighbourhood First” and “Global South” diplomacy, and complements the expansion of e-Visa eligibility to 190+ countries. Officials hinted that further incentives—such as priority processing lanes for LDC nationals—could follow if uptake is strong over the next six months.
