Delhi: The Indian government has announced sweeping changes to its visa system, aimed at making it easier for foreign nationals to visit, study, seek medical treatment and conduct business in the country.
Under the proposed reforms, the number of main visa categories will be reduced from 13 to nine, while the existing 49 subcategories will be streamlined into 23. The tourist visa category will be renamed the visitor visa, with its scope expanded to cover several additional purposes of travel.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has also decided to reduce the information required in visa application forms by approximately 65 to 70 per cent, simplifying the application process for foreign visitors.
The revised system is expected to be introduced by the end of this year, following the necessary upgrades to the technology and administrative systems. The reforms have been developed after examining international visa systems and global best practices, with the aim of making entry and stays in India more convenient for foreign nationals.
Visitor visa to replace tourist visa
One of the major changes is the introduction of a broader visitor visa category, covering activities beyond conventional tourism.
In addition to holidays and sightseeing, the category will include short-term business meetings, medical consultations, wellness programmes, yoga training and short courses in Indian languages, music, arts and crafts.
The V1 visa will allow multiple entries into India within a 30-day period. The V2 visa will be available with validity periods of one, five or 10 years, depending on the applicant’s eligibility. Mountaineering activities will also be covered under the V2 category, with a six-month multiple-entry facility.
One-year multiple-entry medical visa
Foreign nationals travelling to India for medical treatment will generally be eligible for a one-year multiple-entry medical visa.
The facility is intended to make repeated hospital visits, diagnostic tests, treatment sessions and follow-up consultations easier, without requiring patients to apply for a fresh visa each time. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader ‘Heal in India’ programme.
Medical visas will be divided into two main categories:
-
M1: For general medical treatment, excluding AYUSH therapies.
-
M3: For traditional Indian medical treatments, including AYUSH practices.
Separate M2 and M4 categories will be available for people accompanying patients.
Simplified visa categories for foreign students
The student visa system will be streamlined into two categories.
The S1 visa will cover school education, undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The S2 visa will be available for research activities, visiting faculty appointments, internships, student exchange programmes and scientific expeditions.
Foreign students admitted through the Government’s ‘Study in India’ portal will also be eligible for a multiple-entry e-visa. It will be valid for up to five years or until the completion of their course, whichever comes first.
Two categories introduced for business visas
Business visas will be divided into B1 and B2 categories to distinguish between long-term business activities and shorter professional engagements.
The B1 visa will cover longer-term business activities, including establishing industrial and commercial ventures in India.
The B2 category will include short-term contractual assignments, conferences, sporting and cultural events, film production and technical work. Foreign engineers, information technology professionals and technicians employed by Indian companies will also be able to apply under this category.
E-visa facility available to citizens of 172 countries
India currently provides electronic visas to citizens of 172 countries across 13 subcategories. The government is upgrading its information technology systems to support the revised visa structure and application process.
Under the new framework, the nine principal visa categories will be:
-
Business
-
Diplomatic
-
Employment
-
Journalism
-
Medical
-
Official
-
Student
-
Visitor
-
Miscellaneous
The miscellaneous category will cover people of Indian origin, their family members and dependants of individuals holding long-term visas.
The Government expects the streamlined categories, simplified application forms and expanded visa facilities to make India a more accessible destination for international tourists, students, medical travellers and business professionals.
Irish Samachar English News