India has announced a major overhaul of its visa system — simpler application procedures and fewer categories of visas to make travel and other activities easier for foreigners. The number of main visa categories has been reduced from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23 under the new framework. The government has also cut down on required fields in application forms (by 65 to 70 per cent).
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the changes on Wednesday and said restructuring was done on August 27. The latest changes are meant to make India’s visa process more accessible, with less paperwork and more convenience for international visitors, students, business travellers and medical travellers.
This is the second major overhaul of India’s visa regime in recent months. In October 2025, the government had already cut down main visa categories from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49. The latest changes consolidate the system further after studying visa practices followed by developed countries and international standards.
Tourist Visa Replaced With New Visitor Visa Framework
One of the changes is to rename Tourist Visa as Visitor Visa. There are two subcategories, V-1 and V-2, under the new framework so that different purposes of travel can be covered.
V-1 category allows foreign nationals to visit India for short business meetings, medical consultations, wellness visits, brief medical treatment, and short-term courses in Indian languages, music, art, and crafts. It gives multiple-entry permission for 30 days.
Similar activities (including mountaineering) are covered under V-2 category. It can be issued with a validity period of one, five or 10 years depending on purpose and eligibility. Foreign mountaineers will get six-month multiple-entry visas.
The new arrangement should give more flexibility to international visitors who travel to India for short-term activities other than tourism.
Medical Visa Rules Simplified for Foreign Patients
The government has also restructured the Medical Visa framework into four sub-categories: M-1, M-2, M-3, and M-4.
The M-1 category refers to medical treatment other than AYUSH-based healthcare, while M-3 is for patients seeking treatment under AYUSH systems; the corresponding M-2 and M-4 categories are for attendants accompanying patients under the respective medical visa provisions.
Medical visas and their electronic equivalents will generally allow multiple entries for one year according to MHA. The changes are meant to make medical travel easier for international patients and accompanying family members or attendants.
New Student Visa Categories for Education and Research
India has also simplified the structure for foreign students. The earlier student visa provisions were split into two categories, S-1 and S-2.
S-1 visa covers school education, undergraduate studies and postgraduate programmes. S-2 is for research activities, PhD programmes, visiting faculty appointments, internships, student exchange programmes and other academic engagements.
Foreign students admitted through the Study in India portal may be issued multiple-entry electronic S-1 visas that can be valid for up to 5 years or the duration of their academic course, whichever is shorter.
The new provisions are meant to make India more accessible for international students and researchers.
Business Visa Categories Receive Major Changes
The business visa framework has also been revised to cater for different types of commercial and professional activities.
B-1 category includes long-term business activities for which licences are required (e.g., industrial or commercial ventures in India).
B-2 category is used for short-term contract-based activities like production investment, conference attendance, sports related activities, performing arts, and film-related work, etc.
Foreign engineers, technical specialists and experts working for Indian companies may also be granted an electronic Production Investment Business Visa under B-2 (e-B4 provision is replaced).
The new structure is expected to give clearer visa options for international companies, investors and technical professionals working with Indian businesses.
Application Forms to Require 65-70% Fewer Fields
Another feature of the reform is paperwork reduction. “Application fields across all 23 sub-categories have been reduced by about 65 to 70 percent,” MHA said, adding that applications filed under all sub-categories will be rejected if they do not meet prescribed criteria.
The government has kept only the information needed for identity checks and verification but has removed unnecessary details. It wants the application to be faster and simpler for foreign nationals.
Under the new scheme, India’s nine main visa categories will be Business, Diplomatic Work, Journalist, Medical Official, Student, Visitor, and Miscellaneous.
The Miscellaneous category will cover eligible persons of Indian origin, dependants, certain institutional visits and certain long-term stays.
When Will the New Visa System Be Implemented?
The restructuring has been announced, but the new system needs updating in India’s IT infrastructure before it can be fully implemented.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said IT system changes needed for visas issued under the new framework would be completed in time for visas issued by the end of 2026.
The latest reforms are another step in simplifying India’s immigration procedures. By reducing visa categories, consolidating sub-categories and cutting down application requirements, the government wants a more streamlined system for foreign tourists, students, patients, investors and business professionals visiting India.
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