Despite its size, Solomon Islands has quite the business potential. The major contributors to the economy of the country come through agriculture and export of copra, palm oil, as well as gold mining and fishing. The Solomon Islands business visa for Indians is the official entry requirement to do business in the country.
The business visa is an endorsement that lets individuals enter the country for taking part in business-related activities in the country. Nationals of Israel, UAE, and the Schengen have visa-free access into the Islands. A lot of other nationals can get the visa on arrival. Although the Solomon Islands business visa for Indian citizens is available on arrival, you will need prior approval. The permit is granted for a maximum stay duration of 90 days in one year.
In order to apply for the Solomon Islands business visa from India, you must follow the steps mentioned below. However, before starting the application, you must ensure that you are eligible to travel on the business category permit. After this, you can proceed as follows -
The process of getting approval can be quite difficult and complicated. As a result, it is suggested that you use the services of a travel agency to help with your business visa application.
As per the Solomon Islands business visa requirements from India, the following are the documents required for the business permit -
As per the Solomon Islands business visa photo requirements, the photo required for the permit must be of the following specifications -
The actual processing time is just a few minutes as the business permit is obtained on arrival. However, getting prior approval needed for the permit may take some time. Normally, you should get a response within 3 working days. However, depending on the stay duration, the volume of applications, and other factors, this may take longer in certain cases.
The business visa fee for the Solomon Islands entry permit is zero. The permit is issued free of cost. However, since you need to get prior approval, you may have to do this through a travel agency in order to avoid any complications and difficulties. As a result, there can be service charges levied by them.
After you contact the Director of Immigration for approval with all the necessary documents, they will review your application and the authenticity of your documents. If successful, they will let you know about their decision to approve your business visit to Solomon Islands. You can then proceed to travel to the country with the required documents.
Since the business permit is issued only on arrival at the port of entry, you do not need to check the status of your application.
On successfully receiving the business permit, you must keep in mind the following few points to ensure that you have a pleasant stay -
It is not possible to extend your business permit under any normal conditions. However, in certain extreme cases, you may apply for an extension. You can do this by visiting the immigration department in Solomon Islands and applying for an extension. In case you do not get it approved, you must leave the country.
If your business visa has expired, you will not be able to stay back any longer. You must apply for an extension before your permit expires (in special circumstances). Staying back in the country after expiry can lead to hefty charges for each day you stay. In certain cases, you may even be deported.
As per the rules, there are no mandatory medical test requirements for the business permit. Although, in order to be on the safer side, it is highly recommended that you get vaccinations done and complete a routine test medical check-up before travelling to the country.
Yes, it is actually possible to convert your visitor business permit into a work permit. However, the process is quite complicated. You will first need the necessary permission to work from the respective ministry of labour in the Solomon Islands. This process can take quite a while. If you do get it, you can then approach the Department of Immigration and apply to get the visa changed. It is suggested that you apply for the work permit before you travel to the country.
As per the regulations, there is no specific amount required for the business permit. You are only required to have enough funds to support your stay for the entire stay duration. This includes covering all your basic expenses such as food, accommodation, travel, etc. You must also ensure that your funds are easily accessible.
Since you don’t necessarily need to apply for the permit separately, and that you just have to obtain approval for the business entry, there is no particular time you should apply. However, getting approval can take about 3 working days at least. As a result, ensure that you apply well in advance in order to have a buffer for any delays in getting the approval.