New Delhi, India – The Indian government is set to implement a significant overhaul of its visa system, aiming to streamline the application process and make travel to the country more accessible for foreign nationals. Announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the revised framework reduces visa categories, renames key visa types, and slashes application form fields by up to 70%.
These changes, approved on August 27 and expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026, are designed to enhance administrative efficiency and responsiveness to the diverse needs of international visitors, including tourists, students, medical patients, and business professionals.
Streamlined Visa Categories and Application Process
Under the new system, the number of main visa categories has been reduced from 13 to nine, with sub-categories cut from 49 to 23. A major focus of this reform is the simplification of the application process itself. The MHA has reduced the number of fields required in visa application forms by 65-70% across all categories, promising a faster and less cumbersome experience for applicants.
The necessary IT upgrades for the e-Visa platform, currently available to citizens of 172 countries, are in their final stages to accommodate these extensive changes.
Introducing the "Visitor Visa" and Other Key Changes
One of the most notable changes is the renaming of the traditional Tourist Visa to the Visitor Visa. This new category will encompass two types:
- V-1 Visa: Designed for short-term visits, allowing multiple entries for up to 30 days. It covers a range of activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-term treatments, and courses in Indian languages, music, arts, and crafts.
- V-2 Visa: For longer stays, offering validity options of one, five, or ten years, based on eligibility. This category will also cover mountaineering expeditions, for which a six-month multiple-entry visa can be granted.
The MHA believes that consolidating various short-term travel purposes under one comprehensive category will significantly reduce confusion and simplify visa selection for applicants.
Enhanced Provisions for Medical and Student Visas
The revised framework also introduces specific provisions for medical patients and students:
- Medical Visas: Separate categories have been established for conventional medical treatment (M-1 visa) and AYUSH therapies (M-3 visa). Both, including their electronic variants, will typically be issued for one year with multiple entries. Accompanying medical attendants will be eligible for M-2 and M-4 visas, respectively, supporting the Prime Minister's 'Heal in India' initiative.
- Student Visas: Consolidated into two categories. The S-1 visa will cover school, undergraduate, and postgraduate education, while the S-2 visa is for doctoral programs, researchers, visiting faculty, internships, and academic exchanges. Foreign students enrolled through the 'Study in India' portal can receive an e-S1 visa valid for up to five years or the duration of their course.
Simplified Business Visas
Business visas have also been refined into B-1 and B-2 categories:
- B-1 Visa: For long-term activities, including establishing industrial and commercial enterprises.
- B-2 Visa: Covers short-term contractual activities, production investment, conferences, sports, performing arts, and film-related work.
A dedicated provision for foreign engineers, technical specialists, and subject-matter experts employed by Indian companies has been retained. These professionals can now obtain a Production Investment Business Visa under the B-2 category via the e-Visa platform, facilitating technology transfer and industrial operations.
The government states that these comprehensive changes reflect a study of visa systems in developed countries and adherence to international standards, positioning India to welcome more visitors with greater ease.