🛂 Identity documents
- All passports — current and old
- Recent passport-size photograph (35 × 45 mm)
- Aadhaar card and PAN card
- Marriage certificate, if applicable
🏢 Business registration & licences
- GST registration certificate, if applicable
- Udyam / MSME registration certificate, if applicable
- Business registration certificate, partnership deed, proprietorship proof, LLP documents or Certificate of Incorporation, as applicable
- Shop and Establishment registration, trade licence or other business licence, if applicable
- Business PAN and GST returns, if applicable
- Proof of ownership or partnership share, if applicable
🧾 Proof your business is active
- Business profile explaining the nature of business, products or services, location and years of operation
- Business letterhead and visiting card, if available
- Proof of business premises — ownership documents, rent agreement, utility bill or commercial address proof
- Business photographs, website, online listings or other evidence of genuine business operations, if relevant
- Recent business invoices, purchase bills, sales bills, client contracts or work orders, if available
- Proof of business income — sales records, payment receipts or other relevant financial records
- Employee details, payroll records or staff-related proof, if relevant
💰 Income & finances
- Personal bank statements for the last 6 months, preferably bank-stamped
- Personal bank balance certificate, if available
- Business current account statements for the last 6 months, if applicable
- Fixed deposit receipts, savings, investments or other financial proof, if available
- Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the last 2–3 years, as available
- Computation of income and financial statements prepared by a Chartered Accountant (CA), if available
- CA-certified net worth certificate, if available and relevant
🗓️ While you are travelling
- Self-employment explanation letter — your role, responsibilities, monthly or annual income and how the business will run while you are away
- Leave / temporary absence declaration for the travel dates, naming who will manage the business during the trip
🏡 Family & ties to India
- Family details and documents showing family ties in India, where relevant
- Property ownership documents, rent agreements or other evidence of assets and ties in India, if available
✈️ Travel history
- Previous international travel history — old visas, entry / exit stamps and previous passports, if available
- Details and explanation of any previous visa refusals, overstays or immigration issues, if applicable
✉️ If you are invited or sponsored
- Invitation letter from the host, if visiting relatives or friends
- Host’s passport, visa or residence status, address and contact details, if applicable
- Relationship proof with the host, if applicable
- Sponsor’s letter, bank statements, income proof and identity / residence documents, if another person is funding the trip
📎 Also keep ready
- Travel medical insurance, where required or appropriate for the destination
- English translations of documents that are not in English, as the destination requires
- Any additional documents required by the embassy, immigration authority or your personalised checklist
Tips for business owners
- Make sure turnover in your GST returns, ITR, CA statements and bank records tells the same story.
- Show the business is active right now — recent invoices, client orders and current-account activity.
- Name who runs the business while you travel (partner, manager or family member) in your absence declaration.
- Explain any large deposits — business receipts, loan or sale proceeds — with documents.
- Keep a short business profile with photos of your shop or office; it helps the officer understand your work.
Tip: In your free consultation we review your business documents and help you write the explanation letter and absence declaration.
Frequently asked questions
I don’t have GST registration. Can I still apply?
Yes. Small businesses can use other proof — Udyam registration, shop licence, trade licence, bank records, invoices and ITR. We help you choose the strongest documents for your business.
Is a CA certificate necessary?
Not always, but CA-prepared income computation and a net worth certificate make your finances much clearer, especially for Canada, the UK and Australia.
What should the absence declaration say?
Your travel dates, who will manage the business while you are away (with their role), and that you will return to run the business after the trip.