New Working Rules For Expat Partners In India

New guidelines in India will change a rule that has previously prevented the partners of Expats continuing their careers overseas.

London, UK (Pryce Warner International) May 16th, 2011 – More and more Expats are finding themselves on assignment in India as the Indian government aims to tempt them over to fill the nation’s manpower shortage.

However, employment rules in India have previously dictated that the partners of any Expats in India would be unable to continue working as they are in the country on a dependent visa.

This law proved something of a barrier, as many people did not want to give up their careers as part of a move overseas.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has now provided new guidelines that will allow Expat spouses to convert their dependent visas to employment visas. The process will be possible in India, meaning spouses will have the opportunity to spend time seeking work in India after they have moved.

In the past spouses were required to return to their home country and obtain an “E” visa, which would allow them to work. This is no longer necessary under the new guidelines.

The guidelines state that a dependent visa can be converted into an employment visa in cases where a spouse has accompanied their partner as part of an inter-company work arrangement.

They go on to state that the person in question must be highly skilled and/or qualified, work for an Indian company and be earning a salary of over $25 000 per year.

Anyone planning on working as an ethnic cook, language teacher (non-English), translator or Embassy staff member does not have to meet the salary criteria.

This change in guidelines should go a long way towards encouraging more couples to migrate to India for work, as one partner will no longer have to forgo their career as part of the move or undergo a lengthy visa change process.

Though the new guidelines should ensure that no one has to miss out on developing their career, there are still gaps that mean some spouses will not be able to work. If the Indian government hopes to continue to attract foreign employees, they will have to make additional changes or find some other way of compensating those who have to unfairly abandon a career or wish to start a new one.

David Harra, a Senior Market & Investment Analyst with Pryce Warner International Group commented: “This marks a welcome change in what has for many years been considered an outdated policy. In the past, many of our clients have expressed reservations about relocating to India for this reason so hopefully the new guidelines will encourage more people to emigrate. Though the change is certainly for the best it does not quite go far enough towards ensuring everyone will be entitled to continue their career if their partner moves to India. As most couples are made up of two working partners these days, it is vital that the Indian government do all that they can to allow people to continue their career if they wish to see the amount of people emigrating increase.

Pryce Warner International Group provide International Asset & Investment Management, Independent Financial Advice & QROPS Overseas Pensions.

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By: Aneil Fatania
Financial Editor
Pryce Warner International Group
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