New Delhi : India is reworking its visa system so that visiting the country, whether for a holiday, treatment, study or business, involves less paperwork and fewer confusing options. The number of main visa categories will fall from 13 to nine, and sub-categories from 49 to 23.

Separately, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been trimming the application forms themselves. Across all 23 sub-categories, the number of fields applicants must fill in is being cut by 65 to 70 per cent. This follows an earlier round of simplification in October 2025. The government says it looked at visa systems in developed countries and at global norms before settling on the new structure.

The tourist visa becomes the visitor visa

The tourist visa is being renamed the Visitor Visa, and it will cover more than sightseeing. A traveller can now combine a holiday with business meetings, a doctor’s consultation, a wellness retreat or a short course in the same trip.

It comes in two types:

  • V-1: valid for 30 days with multiple entries. It covers tourism, short business meetings, medical consultations, short-duration treatment, wellness retreats, short yoga programmes, and courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft.
  • V-2: meant for longer stays, with validity of one, five or 10 years depending on eligibility. It allows everything under V-1 and adds mountaineering. Mountaineers also get a separate six-month multiple-entry option.

    • Medical visas valid for a year

    Medical visas keep separate tracks for regular treatment and for AYUSH treatment:

  • M-1: treatment other than AYUSH
  • M-3: treatment under AYUSH systems
  • M-2 and M-4: visas for attendants travelling with M-1 and M-3 patients respectively

    • M-1 and M-3, including their e-visa versions, will be issued for one year with multiple entries by default. The idea is to help patients who need repeat consultations, follow-ups or staged procedures without applying again each time. The government links this to its “Heal in India” push.

    Students and researchers

    Student visas are being folded into two types. S-1 covers school, graduate and postgraduate study. S-2 covers PhD scholars, research students, visiting faculty, internships, exchange programmes, and scientific and anthropological expeditions.

    Students admitted through the Study in India portal can get an e-S1 visa valid for up to five years, or for the length of their course if that is shorter, with multiple entries allowed.

    Business visas

    Business visas are now split into B-1 and B-2. B-1 is for long-term activity, including foreigners setting up industrial or business ventures in India. B-2 covers short, contract-based work such as conferences, sports events, cultural performances and film shoots.

    There is also a specific route for foreign experts and technical staff hired by Indian companies. This includes people working on installation and commissioning, quality checks, maintenance, production, IT and ERP systems, training, supply chain development and plant design. They can get a Production Investment Business Visa under B-2 through the e-visa system. Earlier, this fell under the e-B4 label.

    E-visas and timeline

    E-visas are currently offered under 13 sub-categories to citizens of 172 countries. The government is updating its IT systems to roll out the new structure, and the Ministry of Home Affairs expects visas under the revised framework to be issued by the end of 2026.

    The nine main categories will be Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor and Miscellaneous.

    The Miscellaneous category will include:

  • People of Indian origin, along with their spouses and children
  • Dependents of foreigners on long-duration visas
  • People joining institutions such as the Auroville Foundation
  • Afghan nationals seeking stay visas
  • Certain long-term visas for nationals of neighbouring countries
    • Notes:
  • The original text had a cut-off sentence about the October 2025 round (“when the number of main visa categories.”). I did not add any figures there. If you know the details, add them from the official source.
  • I changed the order and wording, but the facts are the same. Confirm the details against the Ministry of Home Affairs announcement before publishing.
  • If you want a headline, two options: “India Trims Visa Categories to Nine, Cuts Form Fields by Up to 70%” or “India’s New Visa Framework: Visitor Visa, One-Year Medical Visa and Shorter Forms.”

    • Planning to visit India and not sure which of the new visa categories fits your trip? Get step-by-step help with your application and the latest visa updates with Visabud.