The Indian government has announced significant changes to its visa system, streamlining categories and simplifying application processes to enhance accessibility for foreign nationals.
New Delhi: In a sweeping reform of its visa regime, the Indian government has announced a reduction in the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23. This initiative aims to facilitate easier access for foreign nationals seeking to visit India for various purposes, including tourism, medical treatment, education, research, and business. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also implemented measures to simplify visa application forms, cutting the number of required fields by 65-70% across all 23 sub-categories.
This overhaul comes after a previous rationalization effort in October 2025, which aimed to streamline the visa process but retained a higher number of categories. The government stated that it examined visa systems in developed nations and aligned its revisions with international standards to improve the visitor experience.
Introduction of Visitor Visa
Among the most notable changes is the renaming of the Tourist Visa to the Visitor Visa. This new category encompasses a broader scope of activities beyond traditional tourism, including business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, and short-term educational courses. The Visitor Visa has been subdivided into two sub-categories: V-1 and V-2.
The V-1 visa will be valid for 30 days and allows multiple entries, covering short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, and participation in cultural and educational programs, including yoga sessions. The V-2 visa is designed for longer visits, with validity options of one, five, or ten years, contingent on eligibility, and includes activities permitted under the V-1, with an additional focus on mountaineering. A special provision for mountaineering allows for a separate six-month multiple-entry visa.
This comprehensive visitor category is anticipated to simplify travel for foreign nationals who wish to combine tourism with other short-term engagements in India.
Restructured Medical Visa Framework
The Indian government has also revised the Medical Visa framework, maintaining distinct provisions for conventional medical treatment and treatment under AYUSH (Ayurvedic, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy). The M-1 visa will cater to general medical treatments, while the M-3 visa will be specific to treatments under AYUSH systems.
Both visa types, including their electronic variants, will now be issued for a standard duration of one year with multiple entries. This change aims to assist foreign patients who may require ongoing consultations, follow-up appointments, or extended treatments, thereby reducing the necessity for repeated visa applications.
This initiative aligns with the government’s broader vision encapsulated in the ‘Heal in India’ program, which seeks to promote India as a medical hub.
Visas for Students and Researchers
The Student Visa category has been consolidated into two main sub-categories, S-1 and S-2. The S-1 visa will encompass school, undergraduate, and postgraduate education, whereas the S-2 category will be directed at PhD scholars, research students, visiting faculty, and various academic activities including internships and exchange programs. Foreign students applying through the Study in India portal may receive an e-S1 visa valid for up to five years or the duration of their course, whichever is shorter, allowing for multiple entries.
The government believes these modifications will provide greater certainty and clarity for foreign students and researchers planning to study or engage in academic projects in India.
Streamlining Business Visa Categories
The Business Visa category has also been restructured into two distinct types: B-1 and B-2. The B-1 visa is aimed at long-term business activities, including foreign nationals interested in establishing industrial or business ventures in India. Conversely, the B-2 visa is tailored for short-term, contract-based activities such as production investments, conferences, cultural performances, and film shoots.
A specific provision allows for the entry of foreign subject-matter experts, engineers, and technical personnel engaged by Indian companies. These professionals, involved in various fields including installation, maintenance, training, and technical support, can now apply for a Production Investment Business Visa under the B-2 category through the electronic visa platform, previously covered under the e-B4 visa category.
Expansion of E-Visa Options
India currently provides e-visa facilities through electronic travel authorization under 13 sub-categories, available to nationals from 172 countries. The government is in the process of updating its information technology systems to implement these changes across the visa regime effectively. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the new visa framework is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
The revised structure will include nine principal categories: Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor, and Miscellaneous visas. The Miscellaneous category will cover individuals of Indian origin, their families, long-term visa holders’ dependents, and Afghan nationals seeking stay visas, among others. These reforms are part of a broader strategy to enhance India’s attractiveness as a destination for tourism, education, and medical treatment.
