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In a major step towards making international travel easier, the Government of India has simplified its visa system by reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to 9 and sub-categories from 49 to 23. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the changes to make the visa application process more convenient, transparent and applicant-friendly for foreign nationals visiting India.
Along with reducing the number of visa categories, the government has also shortened visa application forms by 65–70 per cent. The move is expected to encourage foreign tourists, medical travellers, international students, researchers, investors and business professionals to visit India.
The revised framework aims to remove overlapping categories and make it easier for applicants to select the correct visa according to their purpose of travel.
1. Tourist Visa Renamed as Visitor Visa
One of the most important changes is the renaming of the existing Tourist Visa as the Visitor Visa. The new category covers a wider range of activities beyond traditional tourism.
The Visitor Visa has been divided into two sub-categories, V-1 and V-2, depending on the duration and purpose of the visit.
V-1 Visa: Short-Term Visits
The V-1 Visa will be issued for 30 days with multiple entries. It will cover activities such as:
- Tourism and sightseeing.
- Short-term business meetings.
- Medical consultations and short-duration treatment.
- Wellness retreats and short yoga programmes.
- Short-term courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft.
This provision will benefit foreign visitors who want to combine tourism with other short-term activities during their stay in India.
V-2 Visa: Long-Term Visits
The V-2 Visa is designed for longer visits and may be granted with a validity of one, five or ten years, depending on eligibility and applicable conditions.
It covers activities permitted under the V-1 category, along with mountaineering. Foreign nationals visiting India for mountaineering will receive a six-month multiple-entry visa.
2. Medical Visa Rules Made Easier
The government has also simplified medical visa provisions to strengthen India’s position as a destination for international healthcare and medical tourism.
The revised framework provides separate categories for conventional medical treatment and treatment under traditional AYUSH systems.
New Medical Visa Categories
- M-1 Visa: For medical treatment other than AYUSH systems.
- M-2 Visa: For attendants accompanying M-1 visa holders.
- M-3 Visa: For treatment under AYUSH systems.
- M-4 Visa: For attendants accompanying M-3 visa holders.
Medical visas under M-1 and M-3, including their electronic variants, will ordinarily be issued for one year with multiple entries.
This change is expected to help international patients who require repeated consultations, medical procedures and follow-up appointments. It will also make travel more convenient for their family members and attendants.
3. Business Visa Categories Reorganised
The government has reorganised business visas into two major sub-categories, B-1 and B-2, to provide greater clarity to foreign investors, entrepreneurs and business professionals.
B-1 Visa: Long-Term Business Activities
The B-1 category will cover long-term business activities, including establishing industrial or commercial ventures in India and other eligible licence-based activities.
B-2 Visa: Short-Term Business Activities
The B-2 category will cover short-term, contract-based activities such as:
- Production investment-related business.
- Attending business conferences.
- Sports and cultural performances.
- Film and documentary shooting.
- Other specified short-term commercial activities.
A special provision has also been introduced for foreign engineers, technical experts and specialists hired by Indian companies. They can obtain a Production Investment Business Visa through the e-Visa platform under the B-2 category for eligible assignments.
This is expected to make it easier for Indian companies to bring international expertise for installation, commissioning, maintenance, training and technology transfer.
4. Student Visa System Simplified
The Student Visa category has also been consolidated into two sub-categories: S-1 and S-2.
The S-1 Visa will cover school education, undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
The S-2 Visa will cover research activities, PhD programmes, visiting faculty assignments, internships, student exchange programmes and other specified academic activities.
Additionally, eligible foreign students admitted to Indian educational institutions through the Study in India portal may receive multiple-entry e-S1 visas for up to five years or the duration of their academic course, whichever is shorter.
The changes are expected to make India a more attractive destination for international students and researchers.
5. Visa Application Forms to Become 65–70% Shorter
Another significant development is the reduction in the number of fields and columns in visa application forms across all 23 sub-categories.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the information required from foreign applicants has been reduced by approximately 65–70 per cent.
The objective is to reduce paperwork, save applicants’ time and make the application process easier while retaining essential information required for verification and visa processing.
The simplified forms are also expected to improve administrative efficiency and support more focused scrutiny of applications.
6. India Retains Nine Main Visa Categories
Under the revised framework, India’s nine main visa categories are:
- Business Visa
- Diplomatic Visa
- Work Visa
- Journalist Visa
- Medical Visa
- Official Visa
- Student Visa
- Visitor Visa
- Miscellaneous Visa
The Miscellaneous Visa category covers eligible persons of Indian origin, their family members, dependants of certain foreign nationals and other specified purposes.
7. E-Visa Facility and Implementation Timeline
India currently offers its e-Visa facility to nationals of 172 countries through 13 sub-categories. The revised system is expected to make the overall framework easier to understand and navigate.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is updating its information technology systems to implement the new visa arrangements. According to the government, visas under the revised framework are expected to be issued by the end of 2026.
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Conclusion
India’s decision to reduce visa categories from 13 to 9 and shorten application forms by up to 70 per cent marks an important step towards simplifying international travel.
The revised provisions for tourism, medical treatment, business activities and education are expected to improve convenience for foreign visitors while supporting India’s tourism, healthcare, investment and education sectors.
By reducing unnecessary complexity and introducing clearer visa options, the government aims to make India a more accessible and attractive destination for international travellers, students, patients and business professionals.
