New reforms aim to attract more foreign tourists, international students and medical travellers | Visa application paperwork reduced by up to 70 per cent
The Government of India has introduced a major overhaul of the country's visa framework to simplify procedures, facilitate international travel and strengthen India's position as a destination for tourism, education, healthcare and business investment.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, the Ministry of Home Affairs has rationalised the visa system by reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and the sub-categories from 49 to 23.
The latest changes were implemented on August 27, 2026, following an earlier restructuring exercise in October 2025, when the number of main categories was brought down from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49. The government said the exercise involved studying visa systems in developed countries and taking global practices into consideration.
The revised framework seeks to remove unnecessary overlap between different visa categories and make it easier for foreign nationals to identify the appropriate visa according to their purpose of visiting India. The changes are expected to benefit tourists, patients, students, researchers, investors and business professionals.
At present, India's e-Visa facility is available to citizens of 172 countries across 13 sub-categories, with applications processed through the Electronic Travel Authorisation system.
Tourist Visa Replaced with a More Flexible Visitor Visa
One of the significant changes is the renaming of the Tourist Visa as the Visitor Visa. The revised category covers a wider range of activities beyond conventional tourism and has been divided into two sub-categories, V-1 and V-2.
The V-1 Visa is designed for short-term visits and permits eligible activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-duration medical treatment and short courses in Indian languages, music, art and crafts. It is issued for 30 days with multiple entries.
The V-2 Visa is intended for visitors planning longer stays and is available with validity of one, five or ten years, depending on the applicable conditions. It covers activities permitted under the V-1 category and also includes mountaineering. Foreign nationals visiting India for mountaineering will be granted a six-month multiple-entry visa.
The revised arrangement is expected to make travel more convenient for visitors who wish to combine tourism with business meetings, cultural learning, wellness activities or medical consultations.
Medical Visa Reforms to Support International Patients
The government has also streamlined the Medical Visa framework to facilitate foreign nationals seeking treatment in India.
The revised system retains separate provisions for conventional medical treatment and treatment under AYUSH systems. The M-1 Visa covers medical treatment other than AYUSH, while the M-3 Visa is specifically meant for treatment under AYUSH systems.
Both categories, including their e-Visa versions, will generally be granted for one year with multiple entries. The corresponding attendant visas have also been retained, with M-2 for attendants accompanying M-1 Visa holders and M-4 for those accompanying M-3 Visa holders.
The provision is expected to make travel easier for patients requiring multiple consultations, follow-up visits or treatment in different stages. Multiple-entry validity will also reduce the need for repeated visa applications during the course of treatment.
The government expects these measures to support medical value tourism and advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Heal in India'.
Student Visa System Simplified for International Education
The Student Visa framework has been consolidated into two broad categories, S-1 and S-2, to provide clearer pathways for foreign students and researchers.
The S-1 Visa covers school-level, graduate and postgraduate education, while the S-2 Visa is intended for PhD scholars, research students, visiting faculty, foreign researchers, scientific and anthropological expeditions, internships and student exchange programmes, among other specified academic activities.
Foreign students admitted to Indian educational institutions through the Study in India portal may receive an e-S1 Visa for up to five years or the duration of their academic programme, whichever is shorter. The visa will allow multiple entries.
The revised provisions are expected to provide greater certainty to international students planning their education in India and reduce procedural interruptions during their academic programmes.
Business Visa Changes to Encourage Investment and Industrial Cooperation
The Business Visa framework has also been reorganised into two categories, B-1 and B-2, with separate provisions for long-term business activities and short-term contractual engagements.
The B-1 Visa covers long-term, licence-based business activities, including the establishment of industrial and commercial ventures in India.
The B-2 Visa caters to short-term, contract-based activities, including production investment business, conferences, sporting events, cultural and performing arts activities and film-related work.
A specific provision has also been introduced for foreign technical experts, engineers and subject specialists engaged by Indian companies. These professionals may be involved in installation and commissioning of equipment, quality inspections, essential maintenance, production activities, IT and ERP operations, workforce training, supply-chain development, plant design and technical management.
Such professionals can obtain a Production Investment Business Visa under the B-2 category through the e-Visa platform. Earlier, this facility was available under the e-B4 visa category.
The distinction between long-term investment activities and short-term contractual assignments is expected to provide greater clarity to companies and international professionals. It may also facilitate the timely availability of specialised expertise for industrial projects, technology transfers and production operations.
Visa Application Forms to Become 65-70 Per Cent Shorter
Along with restructuring visa categories, the Ministry of Home Affairs has undertaken a comprehensive exercise to simplify application forms across all 23 visa sub-categories.
Under the revised arrangements, the number of fields and columns applicants are required to complete has been reduced by approximately 65 to 70 per cent.
The objective is to reduce the amount of information applicants need to provide while retaining essential details required for visa processing. The simplified forms are expected to save applicants time and effort while improving administrative efficiency and enabling more focused scrutiny of applications.
The Ministry is also upgrading its information technology systems to implement the revised visa framework. According to the government, visas under the rationalised system will be issued by the end of 2026.
India's Revised Visa Framework: Nine Main Categories
Following the latest rationalisation, India's visa system now comprises nine main categories:
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Business Visa: For long-term business ventures and short-term commercial activities, conferences, sports events, cultural performances and film production.
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Diplomatic Visa: For diplomats, including United Nations diplomats assigned to or visiting India, and their dependents.
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Work Visa: For foreign nationals employed by Indian companies and organisations, as well as those engaged in specified NGO and missionary activities.
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Journalist Visa: For journalists accredited in India.
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Medical Visa: For foreign nationals visiting India for intensive or inpatient medical treatment, including treatment under AYUSH systems, and their attendants.
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Official Visa: For non-diplomatic officials, including relevant United Nations officials visiting or assigned to India, and their dependents.
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Student Visa: For school, graduate and postgraduate education, yoga, Vedic culture, Indian music and dance, Buddhist studies, Indian languages, research, internships and exchange programmes.
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Visitor Visa: For tourism, short-term business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, transit and mountaineering.
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Miscellaneous Visa: For persons of Indian origin and their spouses and children, dependents of foreign nationals holding specified long-term visas, individuals joining certain institutions such as the Auroville Foundation, Afghan nationals and eligible nationals from neighbouring countries, along with other purposes not covered under the remaining categories.
The revised visa framework represents a broader effort to make India's immigration procedures simpler, more transparent and aligned with the changing requirements of international travel.
By reducing paperwork, consolidating overlapping categories and introducing clearer provisions for tourism, healthcare, education and investment, the government aims to encourage legitimate foreign visits and strengthen India's engagement with the international community.