The Centre has rationalised India’s visa regime, reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23, in a move aimed at simplifying procedures and making the system more accessible to foreign nationals visiting the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) implemented the latest changes on August 27, 2026, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The exercise follows an earlier rationalisation in October 2025, when the number of main categories was reduced from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49.
The government said it had studied visa systems in developed countries and international standards while undertaking the exercise. The consolidation of categories with similar purposes is intended to provide greater clarity to applicants and facilitate legitimate foreign travel to India.
Currently, e-visas are processed through electronic travel authorisation under 13 sub-categories and are available to nationals of 172 countries.
Visitor Visa
The erstwhile Tourist Visa has been renamed the Visitor Visa to cover a wider range of activities beyond conventional tourism. It has been divided into two sub-categories, V-1 and V-2.
The V-1 Visa covers short-term activities, including business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-duration medical treatment and courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft. It will be granted for 30 days with multiple entries.
The V-2 Visa is intended for longer visits and will be available with a validity of one, five or 10 years, as specified. It covers activities permitted under V-1, along with mountaineering. For mountaineering, a six-month multiple-entry visa will be granted.
Medical Visa
The revised framework retains separate provisions for treatment under conventional and AYUSH systems. The M-1 Visa covers medical treatment other than AYUSH, while the M-3 Visa is meant for treatment under AYUSH systems.
Both categories, including their e-Visa variants, will generally be granted for one year with multiple entries. Corresponding attendant visas have also been provided: M-2 for attendants accompanying M-1 visa holders and M-4 for those accompanying M-3 visa holders.
The government said the provisions would offer greater flexibility to patients requiring multiple consultations, follow-up visits or staged treatment, while facilitating travel by accompanying attendants. The move is also aimed at promoting medical value tourism in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Heal in India’.
Student Visa
The Student Visa category has been consolidated into two sub-categories. The S-1 Visa covers school, graduate and postgraduate education, while the S-2 Visa is intended for PhD scholars, research students, visiting faculty, scientific and anthropological expeditions, internships and exchange programmes, among other specified academic activities.
Foreign students admitted to Indian educational institutions through the Study in India portal may be granted an e-S1 Visa for up to five years or the duration of their academic course, whichever is shorter, with multiple entries.
Business Visa
The Business Visa category has been divided into B-1 and B-2 sub-categories. The B-1 Visa covers long-term, licence-based business activities, including the establishment of industrial or business ventures in India.
The B-2 Visa covers short-term, contract-based activities, including production investment business, conferences, sports, performing arts and film-related work.
A specific provision has also been introduced under B-2 for foreign subject-matter experts, engineers and technical personnel engaged by Indian companies. Their activities may include installation and commissioning, quality checks, maintenance, production, IT and enterprise resource planning (ERP) operations, training, supply-chain development, plant design, senior management and technical support, including the transfer of technology and expertise.
Such personnel may obtain a Production Investment Business Visa through the e-Visa platform. The facility was earlier covered under the e-B4 visa category.
The government said the distinction between long-term investment and short-term contractual activities would provide greater clarity to businesses and facilitate the deployment of foreign technical expertise for industrial projects.
Simplification of Visa Application Forms
Separately, the MHA has undertaken a comprehensive exercise to simplify visa application forms across all 23 categories and sub-categories. The number of fields and columns required has been reduced by 65 to 70 per cent.
The initiative is aimed at reducing the information applicants need to provide while retaining essential details required for visa processing. It is also expected to reduce the time and effort involved in completing applications and improve administrative efficiency.
The ministry is updating its information technology systems to implement the revised framework. Visas are expected to be issued under the new system by the end of 2026.
The nine main visa categories under the revised framework are Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor and Miscellaneous.
The Miscellaneous Visa category covers persons of Indian origin and their spouses and children, dependents of foreign nationals holding specified long-term visas, individuals joining designated institutions such as the Auroville Foundation, Afghan nationals seeking stay visas, and certain nationals from neighbouring countries eligible for long-term visas, among other purposes not covered by the other categories.
The revised framework is intended to make India’s visa system more streamlined and purpose-based, while supporting travel for tourism, education, healthcare, investment and business, subject to applicable eligibility criteria and conditions.
-PIB
