If you find yourself relocating to India, there are a few essential tips you need to know in order to make the move as easy and successful as possible.
Here are some statistics that can be helpful to know before you move:
- India is now the fastest growing large economy, it is expected to exceed China's growth in 2016
- Google and Facebook rate India as their second most important market
- Half if India's population is below 25 years old
- 400 of the world's Fortune 500 have a presence in India
Simplifying the Indian Visa System
The Indian government has taken some concrete steps to make travel to India much easier. These include:
- Visa on arrival for citizens of 180 countries
- E Visas for most citizens of cost countries (tourist and business)
- Lifetime Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards, allowing people of Indian origin to travel unhindered
- Simplified work visa procedures that reduce turnaround times
India Is Not A Cake Walk
With so many international corporations in India, thousands are coming to the country looking for work. Many of them for the first time are finding difficulty to adjust to these conditions. This is for many reasons. Indian cities are not known to have great standards of living: traffic snarls, power interruptions, noise pollution, and an expected degree of chaos all contribute to this. Delhi, one of the oldest capital cities in the world, is difficult to navigate. One of the best ways to overcome this obstacle is to plan in advance to figure out the logistics of living in a new environment. Here are some realistic options to help the newcomer:
- Stay in a hotel: this is not economical for a long term stay, but if you are willing to put up with the overall costs and lack of cooking facilities, then this is a good option for a short-term work environment.
- Rent an apartment: This is a good option and is more economical than a hotel stay but there are a few issues associated with it. First is finding an apartment in the right area and signing a lease. This may require time and effort but is not an impossible task!
- Stay in a service apartment or long-stay hotel: This is the in-between option for either a hotel or an apartment.
Coming to Delhi NCR?
There are many considerations to take into account before choosing a service apartment, guesthouse, or hotel for a long term stay. Here are some of the things that should be first on your list:
- Location: Ideally, your location should be close to work, as traffic can be very difficult to navigate. Staying near to an airport or highway will also be a bonus.
- Reviews and reputation: Tripadvisor and Booking.com are great places to look at reviews for the places that you are looking to stay.
- Ask for a trial stay period: Going to a new city is always daunting. It would be wise to stay in a place you are considering for about a week before you decide to sign a longer-term lease. Many guesthouses and service apartments can give you this option.
- Cooking: Having your own kitchen is a huge plus when moving to a new country or city. If you can add this to your accommodations then you will be one step closer to being at home!
- Long stay discounts: Most accommodations will have a long stay policy, but this is only available if you ask for it up front. The longer your lease, the better rate you can get.
- Cabs and rental cars (parking space): If you are coming for a medium term stay, then getting a rental car is a good idea. Cabs in India are reasonable but not of the best quality. Having the option for the company you're working with may even be an option, as this is safer and can save you money.
- Storage for luggage: Most large service apartments and guesthouses have space for storing luggage for long periods of time. This service should also be complementary.
Taking all of these factors into consideration before choosing a place to live is a smart choice. It is best to have more than one option rather than staying in an expensive hotel unprepared.
