India simplifies visa rules, cuts application fields by up to 70%

The revised framework consolidates 49 sub-categories into 23, covering travel for business, tourism, medical treatment, and education. The updated visa system is expected to be implemented by end-2026.

Foreign nationals applying for visas to India can expect a simpler application process, following changes that will reduce the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23.

Introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 27 August 2026, the latest rationalisation is the second round of changes to India's visa framework. An earlier exercise in October 2025 had reduced the number of main categories from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49.

The consolidation brings together visa categories covering similar travel purposes, with the aim of making it easier for applicants to identify the appropriate option based on their intended stay.

The review also considered visa systems in developed countries and global standards.

India's e-Visa facility is currently available to nationals of 172 countries and is processed through electronic travel authorisation under 13 sub-categories.

Visitor Visa replaces Tourist Visa, with options for short and long stays

The Tourist Visa has been renamed the Visitor Visa to cover a wider range of activities beyond conventional tourism. The category is now divided into two sub-categories, V-1 and V-2, depending on the nature and duration of the visit.

The V-1 Visa covers short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-duration medical treatment, and short courses in Indian languages, music, art, and craft. It is granted for 30 days with multiple entries.

For longer visits, the V-2 Visa is available with a validity of one, five or 10 years, as specified. It covers activities permitted under the V-1 category, as well as mountaineering. Those travelling for mountaineering will be granted a six-month multiple-entry visa.

The revised arrangement allows eligible visitors to use the Visitor Visa for a wider range of short-term activities, while providing longer-validity options for those planning extended or repeat visits.

Medical Visa provides separate options for conventional and AYUSH treatment

The Medical Visa framework retains separate provisions for foreign nationals seeking conventional medical treatment and those undergoing treatment under India's AYUSH systems.

The M-1 Visa covers medical treatment other than treatment under AYUSH systems, while the M-3 Visa applies to treatment under AYUSH systems. Both categories, including their e-Visa variants, will be granted for one year as the default option, with multiple entries allowed.

There are also corresponding provisions for medical attendants. The M-2 Visa is for attendants accompanying M-1 Visa holders, while the M-4 Visa applies to attendants of M-3 Visa holders.

This allows patients to make multiple trips to India for consultations, follow-up appointments or staged procedures during the visa's validity. The separate attendant categories also provide for those accompanying patients during their treatment.

Student Visa covers education, research, and academic exchanges

The Student Visa category has been consolidated into two sub-categories, covering formal education and other academic activities.

The S-1 Visa applies to school, graduate, and post-graduate education.

Meanwhile, the S-2 Visa covers PhD and research scholars in Indian universities, visiting faculty, foreign research students visiting India for research, scientific and anthropological expeditions, internship and exchange students, among other specified academic activities.

For foreign students enrolled in Indian educational institutions through the Study in India portal, the e-S1 Visa may be granted for up to five years or the duration of their academic course, whichever is shorter. It will allow multiple entries.

The revised provisions distinguish between students pursuing formal education and those visiting India for research, internships and exchange programmes. The e-S1 validity arrangement also takes the duration of a student's academic course into account.

Business Visa separates long-term investments from short-term assignments

The Business Visa category has been reorganised into two sub-categories, B-1 and B-2, based on the nature of the business activity.

The B-1 Visa covers long-term, licence-based business activities, including establishing industrial or business ventures in India. The B-2 Visa, meanwhile, applies to short-term, contract-based activities. These include production investment business, conferences, sports, performing arts and films.

The revised framework also provides for foreign subject-matter specialists, engineers and technical personnel engaged by Indian companies.

Their activities may include installation and commissioning, quality checks, essential maintenance, production, IT and enterprise resource planning (ERP) ramp-up, training, supply-chain development, plant design and bring-up, senior management and technical support. The provision also covers the transfer of know-how, technology and services.

Eligible personnel undertaking these activities may be granted a Production Investment Business Visa under the B-2 category through the e-Visa platform. This was previously covered under the e-B4 Visa nomenclature.

The distinction separates longer-term business ventures from shorter contractual activities, while providing a specific visa provision for foreign specialists supporting industrial and business operations in India.

Visa application forms to require 65%-70% fewer fields

Alongside the changes to visa categories, the MHA said it has reviewed application forms across all 23 visa sub-categories.

The number of fields or columns applicants are required to complete has been reduced by 65%-70%. The exercise aims to limit the information requested from foreign nationals while retaining the details needed for visa processing.

According to the government, the shorter forms will reduce the time and effort applicants spend completing their submissions. The changes are also intended to support administrative efficiency through more focused scrutiny and processing of applications.

India's revised visa framework comprises nine main categories

Following the rationalisation, India's visa framework now comprises nine main categories. Each covers a different purpose of travel or stay in the country.

The categories and their respective purposes are outlined below:

Main visa category	Purpose
Business Visa	Long-term business activities, including establishing industrial or business ventures, and short-term activities such as sports, cultural and commercial performances, production investment business, conferences and film shoots.
Diplomatic Visa	Diplomats, including UN diplomats assigned to or visiting India, and their dependants.
Work Visa	Long-term employment with Indian companies or organisations, work with NGOs and missionary activities.
Journalist Visa	Journalists accredited in India.
Medical Visa	Foreign nationals visiting India for intensive or inpatient medical treatment, including treatment under AYUSH systems, and their attendants.
Official Visa	Non-diplomatic officials, including UN non-diplomatic officials assigned to or visiting India, and their dependants.
Student Visa	School, graduate or post-graduate education, studies in yoga, Vedic culture, Indian music and dance, Buddhist studies, Indian languages and knowledge systems; research, internships and exchange programmes.
Visitor Visa	Tourism, short-term business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, transit and mountaineering.
Miscellaneous Visa	Persons of Indian origin and their spouses or children, individuals joining specified institutions such as the Auroville Foundation, dependants of foreign nationals holding long-duration visas; stay visas for Afghan nationals, long-term visas for certain nationals from neighbouring countries, and other purposes not covered by the remaining categories.

Revised Indian visa system expected by the end of 2026

The MHA is updating its IT systems to accommodate the changes to India's visa regime.

According to the government, visas under the revised framework will be granted by the end of 2026, following the completion of the necessary system updates.

The changes mark a further consolidation of India's visa framework, with fewer main categories, sub-categories and application form fields. Foreign nationals planning to visit the country for business, education, medical treatment or other purposes will be able to refer to the revised categories when identifying the appropriate visa for their intended stay.

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