IndiaMedical visa

India medical visa in India

India's medical visa is intended for foreign nationals travelling for treatment at state-recognised hospitals or at centres of traditional Indian medicine. A separate visa for those accompanying the patient goes with it.

Source: India's official online visa portal, “Visa Categories” section (indianvisaonline.gov.in)

Who can obtain the visa and what the options are

Treatment at an ordinary hospital (the M-1 visa)

For foreign nationals travelling for treatment at state-recognised hospitals and medical centres — the AYUSH systems apart
Companions of the patient obtain a separate attendant visa (M-2)

Treatment under the AYUSH systems (the M-3 visa)

For foreign nationals travelling for treatment under Ayurveda and the other AYUSH disciplines
Companions of the patient obtain a separate attendant visa (M-4)

Documents to gather

A valid passport
A digital photograph for the application form meeting the portal's requirements (JPEG, light or white background, full face)
A medical certificate in the form approved by the Bureau of Immigration for the visa service (the form is published on boi.gov.in)

How the process runs

The general procedure for obtaining a regular visa through an Indian mission — it applies to the medical visa as well

1
The online application form
The applicant completes the form on the indianvisaonline.gov.in portal and chooses the Indian mission where the visa will be filed. Each applicant — accompanying persons included — files a separate form.
2
Booking an appointment or printing the form
Once the form has been submitted the system assigns an application number. If appointment booking and online payment are available for the mission chosen, the applicant picks the date of the visit and pays the fee online. If they are not, the form is printed out for filing in person.
3
Filing the documents
The form and the accompanying documents are filed in person at an Indian Visa Centre or at an Indian mission, together with payment of the fee.
4
Consideration and issue of the visa
from 3 working days
Once it has received the form, the Indian mission considers it for at least 3 working days — the exact period depends on the applicant's citizenship.

Who you can bring with you

The attendant visa that goes with the medical visa

Persons accompanying a patient treated at an ordinary hospital (the M-2 visa)

No more than two accompanying persons for most countries, one for nationals of Pakistan and three for nationals of Bangladesh

Persons accompanying a patient treated under the AYUSH systems (the M-4 visa)

No more than two accompanying persons, whatever their citizenship

Trips, renewal and the grace period

If the visa was issued for more than 180 days, register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival.

If the treatment does not fit within the validity of the visa, the extension or the change of status is applied for through the indianfrro.gov.in portal while the current visa is still valid — leaving time to spare for the application to be considered. If the decision has not arrived before the visa expires, the foreign national is obliged to leave India.

Frequently asked questions about India medical visa

Who can obtain India's medical visa?

Foreign nationals travelling for treatment at state-recognised hospitals and medical centres — either under conventional medicine or under the AYUSH systems (Ayurveda and the other traditional disciplines).

Is a medical visa required for a one-off consultation with a doctor?

No. An outpatient consultation, for nationals of Pakistan included, may be had at any hospital on a visa already held — there is no need to obtain a medical visa.

How many accompanying persons may travel with the patient?

For a patient treated at an ordinary hospital — no more than two accompanying persons (one for nationals of Pakistan, three for nationals of Bangladesh). For a patient treated under the AYUSH systems — no more than two accompanying persons, whatever their citizenship.

Is registration required in India after arrival on a medical visa?

Yes, where the visa has been issued for more than 180 days — registration with the FRRO/FRO is mandatory within 14 days of arrival. Nationals of Pakistan register whatever the validity of the visa: the holder of the patient's visa within 7 days, the holder of an attendant visa within 24 hours.

When does another visa have to be changed into a medical one, if treatment turns out to be needed while already in India?

For nationals of Pakistan — for any inpatient treatment. For other foreign nationals — only where the treatment goes beyond the permitted period of stay on the visa held, or where an organ transplant is required.

How long does it take for a visa application to be considered?

Once it has received the form through a visa centre or directly, the Indian mission considers it for at least 3 working days — the exact period depends on the applicant's citizenship.

Is tourism allowed while in India on a medical visa?

Yes. Foreign nationals other than nationals of Pakistan who have entered on any visa, the medical one included, may engage in the activities permitted on a tourist visa, the main declared purpose of the trip being preserved.

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.