India

Employment taxes

• Income tax in India is progressive, with two regimes: old and new. Depending on your income, you’ll fall into different brackets.
• Besides income tax, other deductions from your pay may include Provident Fund (PF) contributions (usually 12% of basic salary) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) if you earn below certain thresholds.
• The employer also contributes to PF and possibly other social welfare funds.

Leave policy

• Annual leave: 15-18 days/year (varies by state and company) based on number of days worked.
• Casual leave: 7-10 days/year for urgent personal matters.
• Sick leave: Usually 7-12 days/year, depending on state / employer. Fully paid by the employer.
• Maternity leave: 26 weeks fully paid leave for the first two children. Employer will be responsible for this pay.
• Paternity leave / Parental leave: Not uniformly strong everywhere. Some companies offer 2-15 days paternity leave, but this is often a perk rather than a full statutory guarantee.

Employment termination

• Compliant terminations include: termination with cause, termination due to poor performance, resignation, mutual agreement, termination during probation period.
• Notice periods depend on your contract. For many private-sector roles, 30 to 90 days is common. Higher-level/longer tenure roles may require longer notice.
• Employees who are terminated due to redundancy or retrenchment are entitled to a severance pay, which is based on the employee's length of service and average pay. The statutory minimum is 15 days average wage per year of continuous service or part thereof in excess of 6 months for all employees with at least 1 year of continuous service.

Hiring and contracts

• A written contract is essential and always signed by both parties. It should cover job title, salary, roles & responsibilities, leave, notice/termination terms, governing law, etc.
• Contracts must be in English and can be bilingual.
• Probation periods are usual: 3-6 months (sometimes up to a year for senior roles). During probation, notice periods tend to be shorter.

Payroll and salary payments

• Payroll is nearly always monthly.
• Salary structure often includes basic salary, allowances (housing, transport, dearness allowance), bonuses.
• Minimum wage in India isn't one fixed number. It varies by state, industry, skill level, and sometimes by district. For factories, there are specific minimums. Some minimum wages include a Dearness Allowance (VDA) which adjusts for inflation.

Benefits

Mandatory

• Annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave
• Provident Fund (PF): retirement savings scheme. Both employer & employee contribute.
• Employees’ State Insurance (ESI): medical benefit for employees earning below a certain level.
• Gratuity: for long service (5+ years).

Optional

• Private health insurance or extra medical coverage.
• Transport or commuting allowances.
• Meal vouchers, wellness programs, flexible work or remote options.
• Training and learning budget
• Internet and phone reimbursements.

Monthly living cost (New Delhi Edition)

• One-bedroom apartment in city centre: ₹15,000–₹25,000 (€150–€250 / $165–$275)
• Utilities (water, electricity, gas, garbage): ₹3,000–₹5,000 (€30–€50 / $33–$55)
• Internet: ₹700–₹1,200 (€7–€12 / $7.7–$13.2)
• Public transport: ₹600–₹1,500 (€6–€15 / $6.6–$16.5)
• Groceries / food at home + eating out occasionally: ₹6,000–₹12,000 (€60–€120 / $66–$132)
• Entertainment: ₹2,000–₹5,000 (€20–€50 / $22–$55)

All together, a single person can live comfortably in New Delhi on ₹35,000–₹60,000 per month (€350–€600 / $385–$660), depending on lifestyle and housing choice.

How to get a local ID number (PAN)

• You’ll likely need a Permanent Account Number (PAN), India’s tax ID. Essential for filing taxes, opening bank accounts, receiving salary, etc.
• For foreigners staying long term: you may have to register with Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) depending on your visa and stay duration.

Social security registration

• For eligible employees: Provident Fund (PF) registration is mandatory.
• If you are under the income threshold: Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) may apply.
• Other welfare and labour schemes vary by state.

Banking

• Several major banks are widely used: State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra.
• Foreigners usually need valid passport + visa + proof of address + PAN (if applicable) to open a bank account.
• Many banks offer online banking, mobile apps. UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is hugely popular for local payments.

Housing and rental process

• Rentals usually require advance deposit (often 1-3 months rent) + monthly rent.
• Many leases are 11-12 months, but renewals are possible.
• Landlords usually cannot increase rent arbitrarily within the lease period, and eviction must follow legal/contractual notice.
• Getting a rental agreement in writing is very important to avoid misunderstandings.

Healthcare system

• Public healthcare exists but varies widely in quality. Private hospitals and clinics usually offer much better facilities, though at a higher cost.
• Many companies offer private health insurance as part of perks.
• For major cities, you’ll find world-class medical care at a reasonable cost compared to many Western countries.

Driving and public transport

• Foreigners usually can use international driving permits for a limited time, but for long stays, you may need Indian driving license depending on state laws.
• Public transport: extensive in big cities (metros, buses, local trains). Metro systems in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru etc. are reliable and affordable.
• Ride-sharing (Uber, Ola, etc.), auto-rickshaws, and taxis are also common.

Emergency and important contacts

• Police - 100
• Ambulance - 101
• Fire - 102

Work permit and visa requirements

All foreign citizens need an Employment Visa to work legally in India. Your employer in India has to sponsor you for this visa. That means they’ll provide an official job offer letter, company documents, and proof that your role really requires a skilled professional like you.

Once you apply at your local Indian embassy or consulate, you’ll usually be granted an Employment Visa that’s valid for one year (sometimes longer if the job contract is longer). It can be extended inside India if your contract continues.

In India, the Employment Visa itself functions as your work authorization. You don’t need to apply for a separate permit like in some countries. However, after you arrive, you’ll need to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days if your visa is valid for more than 180 days.

The whole process can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks, depending on how quickly your employer provides the paperwork and how busy your local consulate is.

Business culture and work norms

• Hierarchies are still common, especially in more traditional companies and respect for authority is valued.
• That said, in startups and tech companies things tend to be more collaborative, flexible and meritocratic.
• Relationships and trust are important: people often prefer to build personal rapport before fully opening business cooperation.
• Communication can be more indirect than you may be used to, but clarity, patience, and asking clarifying questions help a lot.