India takes a big leap toward a global manufacturing and investment hub. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has initiated the digital sponsorship letter generation module under the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4 Visa) initiative.
This reform was announced through PIB Delhi on 17 December 2025 for simplifying and accelerating the processes involved in which Indian companies invite foreign professionals engaged in production. By integrating visa facilitation with the National Single Window System (NSWS), the government has removed long-standing procedural bottlenecks and greatly improved the ease of doing business in India.
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What is the e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4)?
The e-B-4 Visa is a brand-new sub-category of the Business Visa category specifically devised to further the manufacturing, production, and industrial ecosystem of India, which, according to estimates, is growing. This visa allows foreign specialists, engineers, technical experts, and senior executives to visit India for short-term engagements relating to production.
Key Features of the e-B-4 Visa:
- The platform for the e-Visa application is entirely online.
- It can stay in the country between one month and six months.
- The e-Visa application is done through the official Indian e-Visa portal.
- Furthermore, a digital sponsorship letter should support the application.
- Such applications can be for either PLI or non-PLI companies.
Why Was This Reform Introduced?
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a circular in August 2025 addressing various issues related to hiring foreign professionals by Indian companies.
Previously misconstrued under Employment Visas, activities such as installation, commissioning, and technical support have led to delays and confusion regarding compliance.
To resolve this, the government:
- Specific technical activities shifted to the Business Visa regime.
- Production Investment Visa established (B-4).
- Former electronic Policy Linkage Initiative Business Visa was terminated.
- Visa Manual-2019 updated.
Activities Covered Under the B-4 Visa-
Foreign professionals can now be invited under the e-B-4 Visa for the following purposes:
- Installation and commissioning of equipment
- Quality checks and essential maintenance
- Production operations
- IT and ERP system ramp-up
- Training and skill transfer
- Supply chain development and vendor empanelment
- Plant design and operational bring-up
- Visits by senior management and executives
This broad scope ensures seamless support for India’s manufacturing, industrial, and technology sectors.
Digital Sponsorship Letter: What’s New?
The development in this aspect of reform, creating digital sponsorship letter writing, stands out loud and clear.
Earlier Challenges:
- Manual paperwork
- Multiple ministry approvals
- Long processing timelines
- Line ministry recommendations required
What Has Changed Now?
- Sponsorship letters are automatically generated online.
- Immediate access through the NSWS.
- Does not require any approval from Housekeeping Ministers.
- Data has been auto-populated through MCA, GSTN and other relevant databases.
- Unique Sponsorship ID number for every sponsor letter.
With the application for a visa on the e-Visa portal for India, this unique ID is used by the Foreign National, thus providing complete end-to-end digital integration.
Role of the National Single Window System (NSWS)-
The National Single Window System (NSWS) acts as the backbone of this reform.
How NSWS Helps Businesses:
- Central Approvals: 698+ in total access
- State Approvals: 7,358+ in total access.
- Guidance on KNOW YOUR APPROVALS (KYA)
- Encompasses 32 Central Departments and 35 States
- Single digital interface for approvals and registrations.
Through NSWS, Indian companies and LLPs can now generate e-B-4 sponsorship letters without navigating multiple departments.
Who Can Use This Module?
The digital sponsorship module is available to:
- Indian companies
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
- PLI scheme participants
- Non-PLI businesses
This inclusivity ensures that startups, MSMEs, and large enterprises benefit equally.
Integrated Visa Approval Ecosystem-
The new system connects three key ministries:
Ministry of Commerce & Industry:
- Has a pivotal role in the promotion of industrial growth, manufacturing, and foreign investment in India.
- By doing this, DPIIT drives policy reforms, easing doing business and global competitiveness for the better.
Ministry of Home Affairs:
- It was constructed to devise, regulate, and implement the visa and immigration policies of India.
- The national security that it provides minimises hindrances for the entry of foreign professionals into approved business and production activities.
Ministry of External Affairs:
- Presides over and coordinates international travel and consular services for India’s diplomatic missions.
- Facilitates the issuance of visas through Indian missions abroad to ensure that these actions are in alignment with the country’s foreign policy objectives.
This integration ensures:
- Faster visa issuance
- Better coordination
- Reduced manual intervention
- Transparent tracking
According to officials, over 129 companies have already applied through this system to sponsor foreign specialists.
Benefits for the Indian Industry-
This reform delivers clear advantages for businesses and investors:
Key Benefits:
- With less red tape, it will be easier than ever to onboard global talent
- Lowered compliance burden
- A transparent and completely paperless process
- Increased economic activity in the manufacturing and production fields
- Increased confidence among investors
In line with “Make in India” and PLI objectives: Prime Minister states that “India is laying a red carpet for global companies to come, set up, and grow”. Here is where we need to go now with ease of onboarding global talent.
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Impact on Ease of Doing Business-
The digital sponsorship module directly supports India’s global rankings and reform agenda by:
- Simplifying visa procedures
- Reducing approval timelines
- Encouraging foreign collaboration
- Supporting high-value manufacturing
It marks a shift from control-based governance to facilitation-based governance.
Conclusion-
The advent of the digital form generation module for the sponsorship letter for e-B-4 visa marks a real transformation in the country with respect to the ecosystem of business and visas. DPIIT has created a system that actually supports global collaboration and industrial growth by the use of technology, reduction in unnecessary approvals, and simplification of processes.
This initiative not only puts Indian companies in a position of advantage, but also sends a very strong message to the international investors that the country is open, effective and forward-looking.