HR Checklist: Employee Mobility & Recruitment in India

Everything You Need to Navigate Indian Labor, Tax, and Visa Compliance

Deploying talent to India or making key local hires involves navigating complex legal frameworks, state labor standards, and statutory social security obligations. This free operational checklist breaks down the relocation and hiring process into five actionable stages to ensure your expansion runs smoothly and compliantly.

Key Sections Covered in the Asset

• Step 1: Immigration & Visas Identify the appropriate visa pathway (Employment vs. Business Visa), validate local entity sponsorship eligibility, verify minimum salary compliance (USD $25,000 / 16.25 lakh per annum), and complete mandatory e-FRRO registrations.
• Step 2: Employment & Contracts Draft compliant local employment or secondment contracts, ensure compliance with state-level Shops and Establishments Acts, structure tax-effective allowances (HRA, expat perks), and allocate split payroll mechanisms.
• Step 3: Local Taxation & Withholding Evaluate tax residency status under the France-India Double Tax Agreement (DTAA), set up Section 192 TDS income tax withholding, and implement tax equalization policies.
• Step 4: Social Security & EPF Evaluate Employee Provident Fund (EPF) obligations for International Workers, secure a Certificate of Coverage (CoC) under the Social Security Agreement, review CFE/CPAM detachment options, and assess Payment of Gratuity Act statutory entitlements.
• Step 5: Relocation & Onboarding Streamline local administrative setup (obtaining a PAN card, opening a local bank account), arrange temporary/long-term housing, secure international health insurance, and provide family integration support.

Explore Related Insights Before You Expand

To complement your checklist, check out these deep-dive articles from the Expandys expert team: 

📖 International Portage Salarial & EOR Guide
Discover how using an Employer of Record (EOR) simplifies Indian workforce management, contract compliance, and international payroll without setting up a local entity.

Discover how India has evolved from an outsourcing cost-center into a high-value strategic engine for innovation, leadership, and international business expansion.

Explore agile market-entry strategies, low-risk validation models, and operational frameworks to test commercial demand in India prior to committing capital to a foreign entity. 

Need Direct Support Expanding to India?

Expandys’ Employer of Record (EOR) and Global Mobility services guide your team through every step of local hiring, contract compliance, and visa processing.