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Patient attendant visa in India

An electronic visa for those accompanying a patient entering India on the electronic medical visa, the e-Medical Visa. It is arranged online in advance and is issued only together with the patient's visa — it cannot be obtained on its own, without that link.

Visa term
60 days from the date of arrival, multiple entry.
Work
Work is not allowed. The electronic visa is not issued for employment.

Source: India's official online visa portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in)

Who may apply for the e-Medical Attendant Visa

An application is accepted only in connection with the trip of a patient who holds an e-Medical Visa.

All of this is required

  • The applicant accompanies a patient entering India for treatment on an e-Medical Visa
  • Citizenship of a country or territory on the list eligible for India's electronic visa — Russia is on that list
  • The passport is valid for at least a further six months on the date of filing, and the applicant holds a passport of their own, not being endorsed on a parent's or spouse's passport
  • No more than two applications for an attendant visa have been filed against the patient's single e-Medical Visa

What it costs

Fee for Russian nationals120 USD

Documents to gather

Besides the completed application form, only one mandatory document is required for the e-Medical Attendant Visa.

  • A scan of the passport page bearing the applicant's photograph and personal details (biodata page)
  • A full-face photograph against a white background: JPEG format, between 10 KB and 1 MB in size

How the process runs

The application is filed through the official portal indianvisaonline.gov.in.

  1. 1

    Gathering the documents and filing the application online

    no earlier than 120 days and no later than 4 days before the date of arrival

    A scan of the biometric page of the passport and a separate full-face photograph against a white background are uploaded to the form.

  2. 2

    Paying the fee

    The amount depends on the applicant's citizenship. The bank adds 3% for card payments and 4% for payments through PayPal; the fee is not refunded even if the visa is refused.

  3. 3

    Awaiting the decision

    Issue or refusal is communicated to the email address given in the form. The status of the application can be checked on the portal under Check your Visa Status.

  4. 4

    Receiving the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and entering India

    Once the application is approved, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is issued. The visa is valid for 60 days from the date of first arrival in India, with multiple entry during that period.

Who you can bring with you

This visa is itself intended for one family member or close person travelling with the patient.

Each accompanying person
A separate passport of their own is required — the electronic visa is not issued on a passport in which a child or a spouse is endorsed
The third and any further accompanying persons
The application will not be approved: no more than two e-Medical Attendant Visas are issued per patient's e-Medical Visa

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The visa confers no resident status: it is tied to the patient's trip. It cannot be extended or changed for another status.

The electronic attendant visa is not extended and is not re-issued in another category — the portal answers this question with a direct refusal. If the patient has to be accompanied again, a fresh e-Medical Attendant Visa application is made.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The electronic visa is not extended and not converted into another category. There is no route to permanent residence through it: for a long stay you obtain an ordinary visa of the required type.

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation is governed by the Citizenship Act 1955: 11 years of residence in India are required. For Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan the period is reduced to 5 years.

Frequently asked questions about Patient attendant visa

Who can obtain the e-Medical Attendant Visa?
A person accompanying a patient who is entering India for treatment on an e-Medical Visa. The applicant must be a national of a country on the list eligible for India's electronic visa and must hold a passport of their own.
How much does the e-Medical Attendant Visa cost for Russian nationals?
USD 120. The fee depends on the applicant's citizenship — a different rate applies for most countries.
Is there a surcharge for paying the fee by card or through PayPal?
Yes. The bank adds 3% of the amount of the fee for card payments and 4% for payments through PayPal. The fee once paid is not refunded, even if the visa is refused.
How many attendants can obtain a visa for one patient?
No more than two. A maximum of two e-Medical Attendant Visas are issued per patient's e-Medical Visa.
How long is the attendant visa valid and how many times may it be used to enter India?
60 days from the date of first arrival in India, with multiple entry during that period.
When should the application for the e-Medical Attendant Visa be filed?
No later than 4 days before the date of arrival in India. The application may be filed in advance; the filing window opens 120 days before the trip.
How does the e-Medical Attendant Visa differ from the e-Medical Visa for the patient?
The e-Medical Visa for the patient is valid for 365 days and requires a letter from the Indian hospital about the admission. The e-Medical Attendant Visa for the accompanying person is valid for 60 days, and a scan of the passport is enough for it — no letter from the hospital is required.

Other ways to move to India

Every route in one list — migration programmes: India.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.