India’s government has streamlined its visa policies to better match the needs of foreign visitors.
This update builds on prior reforms in October 2025, when the system was simplified—main categories dropped from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49. The changes were shaped by examining visa processes in advanced economies and international best practices.
Streamlining Visa Application Process
The required fields/columns for all 23 categories/sub-categories of Visas have been reduced by 65%-70%.
This initiative aims to significantly reduce the information required from foreign nationals, simplify visa forms while retaining essential details necessary for visa processing. This will reduce time and effort required to complete applications by the applicant as well as enhance administrative efficiency by facilitating more focused scrutiny and processing of visa applications.
New Tourist And Medical Options
Currently, 172 nationalities can apply for e-visas. The old Tourist Visa has been rebranded as a Visitor Visa to reflect its expanded scope beyond tourism.
Visitor Visa Categories
The category has been organised into two sub-categories, V-1 and V-2, so that applicants may select a visa suited to the nature and duration of their proposed visit. V-1 Visa covers short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-duration medical treatment and short-term courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft.
The V-1 Visa allows 30-day stays with multiple entries. The V-2 Visa, valid for 1, 5, or 10 years, covers all V-1 activities plus mountaineering.
A separate six-month visa with multiple entries is available specifically for mountaineering. The new structure makes it easier for travelers to pick the right visa when mixing business, medical visits, wellness trips, or cultural programs—like short yoga courses—with their travel plans.
The longer-duration V-2 option provides continuity and convenience for eligible repeat visitors, while the specific mountaineering provision addresses the distinct needs of such travel. The Medical Visa framework retains separate provisions for treatment under conventional and AYUSH systems.
M-1 Visa covers medical treatment other than treatment under AYUSH systems, while M-3 Visa covers treatment under AYUSH systems. M-1 and M-3 Visas, including their e-Visa variants, will be granted for one year as a default option with multiple entries.
Corresponding medical attendant visa provisions are also available, with M-2 and M-4 Visas granted for attendants of M-1 and M-3 visa holders respectively. The government believes that the multiple-entry validity can reduce the need for repeated visa applications during a course of care.
Changes For Students And Business
The Student Visa category has been consolidated into two broad sub-categories: S-1 Visa covers school, graduate and post-graduate education, while S-2 Visa covers PhD and research scholars in Indian universities, visiting faculty, foreign research students visiting India for research, scientific and anthropological expeditions, internships 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 for the duration of the academic course, whichever is less, with multiple entries.
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has welcomed the announcement, describing it as a significant and much-needed step towards making India a more accessible and visitor-friendly destination for international tourists. IATO has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism for this positive initiative.
Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, said, “We sincerely thank both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism for their efforts in bringing about this much-needed simplification of India’s visa procedures. IATO has been consistently raising this issue at various government forums and meetings, as cumbersome visa procedures have often been a concern for international travellers and overseas tour operators.”
Updates For Investors And Specialists
The Business Visa category has been consolidated into B-1 and B-2, with B-1 Visa covering long-term, licence-based business activities, including foreign nationals seeking to establish industrial or business ventures in India, and B-2 Visa covering short-term, contract-based business activities, including Production Investment Business, conferences, sports, performative arts and films.
A specific provision has also been made for foreign subject-matter specialists, engineers and technical personnel engaged by Indian companies in activities such as installation and commissioning, quality checks and essential maintenance, production, IT and ERP ramp-up, training, supply-chain development, plant design and bring-up, senior management and technical support, including transfer of know-how, technology and services.
Support for Technical Personnel
Foreign subject-matter specialists, engineers, and technical personnel engaged by Indian companies may obtain a Production Investment Business Visa under the B-2 category via the e-Visa platform. This provision replaces the earlier e-B4 visa nomenclature.
The rationalisation reduces overlap between visa categories. It makes the framework easier to handle for visitors, patients, students, researchers, investors, and business professionals. The changes support legitimate travel, education, healthcare, and economic engagement with India through clearer, purpose-based visa options.
