The Government of India announced on November 12, 2026, a major overhaul of its visa regime, reducing the number of main visa categories from 22 to 9 and sub-categories from 63 to 23. This rationalisation aims to create a more compact and coherent visa system for foreigners visiting India, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which led the process.
Previously known as the Tourist Visa, the category has been renamed the Visitor Visa and is split into two sub-categories: V-1 and V-2. The V-1 Visa covers short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short medical treatment,
and short-term courses in Indian languages, music, art, and craft. It offers multiple entries and is granted for 30 days. The V-2 Visa supports longer visits with validity options of 1, 5, or 10 years, encompassing the same activities as V-1 plus mountaineering, the latter of which receives a separate six-month visa with multiple entries.
The Medical Visa framework has been differentiated into conventional medical treatment under the M-1 Visa and AYUSH system treatment under the M-3 Visa. Both M-1 and M-3 Visas, including electronic variants, are granted with one-year validity by default and allow multiple entries. Attendant visas M-2
and M-4 correspond to M-1 and M-3 holders, respectively, granting support for those accompanying patients during medical treatments.
Student Visas have been consolidated into two main sub-categories. S-1 Visa covers school through post-graduate education, while S-2 includes PhD candidates, research scholars, visiting faculty, foreign research students, internships, and anthropological expeditions. Foreign students enrolled in Indian institutions via 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, permitting multiple entries.
The Ministry of Home Affairs justified these changes by referencing studies of visa systems in
developed countries and adherence to global standards. “While considering the simplification of the Indian visa regime, the Government of India studied the Visa system of the developed countries and global standards,” the ministry said. The consolidation of similar travel purposes intends to provide clarity and facilitate legitimate foreign arrivals.
The reform improves travel convenience by reducing visa complexity and extending visa validity periods. Multiple-entry visas and clearer categorisation enable easier identification of the appropriate visa for visitors engaging in mixed-purpose trips combining tourism, business, medical consultations, wellness, and cultural learning. Longer validity multiple-entry visas also minimize repeated applications, particularly benefiting
medical treatment seekers and foreign students.
These changes support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Heal in India vision by promoting medical value tourism and simplifying procedures for patient attendants. The clearer Business Visa provisions also address investment and specialized activities more transparently, fostering a more responsive visa environment aligned with India’s broader tourism and education strategies.
