IndiaStudy visa

India student visa

India's student visa is a visa for foreign nationals travelling to study at an accredited Indian educational institution. It is obtained through an Indian embassy or consulate, not through the electronic visa portal.

Visa term

up to 5 years

Renewal: yes, until the end of the course

Threshold

The applicant confirms that there is enough money for the studies and for living in India.

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

Who can obtain a student visa

How you apply depends on whether you already have confirmed admission to an Indian institution.

Confirmed admission already in hand

File the application for the student visa directly at an Indian embassy or consulate abroad
Attach confirmation of admission to an accredited Indian institution to the application

No admission as yet

Obtain a Provisional student visa at an Indian mission abroad, so as to travel and choose an institution
Once confirmed admission has been obtained in India, file the documents for an ordinary student visa with the local FRRO/FRO

Documents to gather

To obtain a student visa you need:

Confirmation of admission to an accredited Indian educational institution
Proof of financial standing for the period of study
An NOC (No Objection Certificate) from India's Ministry of Health — for medical and paramilitary courses

How the process runs

The procedure depends on whether the applicant has confirmed admission to an institution.

1
The provisional visa for finding an institution
6 months
If confirmed admission has not yet been obtained, file an application for a Provisional student visa at an Indian embassy or consulate abroad — it gives time to travel and to choose a course and an institution.
2
Confirmed admission
Obtain confirmed admission to an accredited Indian educational institution — either abroad before the application is filed, or in India on the provisional visa.
3
Filing the documents for the visa
at least 3 working days
File the documents for the student visa: directly at an Indian mission abroad if admission is already confirmed, or through the local FRRO/FRO if admission was obtained while in India on a provisional visa. Confirmation of admission and proof of financial standing are attached to the application; for medical and paramilitary courses an NOC from India's Ministry of Health is additionally required.
4
Receiving the student visa
The Indian mission or the FRRO/FRO issues the student visa for the duration of the course or for 5 years, whichever comes first, usually with a single entry. Where the visa is for more than 180 days, registration with the local FRRO/FRO is required within 14 days of arrival.

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.

The student visa is extended where resits (supplementaries) are required and the institution confirms this by documents. The extension is applied for at the local FRRO/FRO with a bonafide certificate and proof of financial standing.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	India student visa	India work visa	Overseas Citizen of India card
Visa term	For the duration of the course or for 5 years, whichever is shorter, multiple entry	Usually up to 1 year or the term of the contract; extension up to 5 years in total	Lifelong multiple-entry visa; the card is for life
Grounds	One of the visa categories granted by the Government of India	Employment / business	Indian origin
Money	The applicant confirms that there is enough money for the studies and for living in India	Salary above INR 16.25 lakh a year (for persons of Indian origin — from 3.6 lakh); fee	No specific income requirements; state fees for OCI registration
Residence	If the visa was issued for more than 180 days, register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival	FRRO registration for stays over 180 days	No minimum residence

Frequently asked questions about India student visa

Can one travel to India on a tourist visa, choose an institution on the spot and change the visa into a student one?

No. To explore the options for study you have to obtain a provisional student visa for 6 months at an Indian mission abroad in advance, and only after confirmed admission has been obtained in India do you file the documents for an ordinary student visa with the local FRRO/FRO.

For how long is the student visa for India issued?

For the duration of the course or for 5 years — whichever comes first.

How many times may India be entered on a student visa?

The visa usually gives a single entry only. Where there is good reason, an application for additional entries may be made to the Visa Facilitation Centre at the Foreigners Division of India's Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.

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

Yes, where the visa has been issued for more than 180 days — students register with the local FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival.

Can the student visa be extended?

Yes, where resits (supplementaries) are required and the institution confirms this by documents. The extension is applied for at the local FRRO/FRO with a bonafide certificate and proof of financial standing.

Is a separate permission required for medical subjects?

Yes. Courses in medicine and paramilitary training require an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from India's Ministry of Health. For engineering and technical programmes, architecture, pharmacy, applied arts, MBA, MCA and hotel management no such NOC from the ministry of education is required.

How long does an Indian mission take to consider a visa application?

The Indian mission considers the application for at least 3 working days; the exact period depends on the applicant's citizenship, special cases apart.

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.