India has significantly overhauled its visa regime, streamlining the entry process for foreign nationals. The move, aimed at boosting clarity and accessibility, consolidates numerous visa types and simplifies application forms.
A Major Simplification
The Indian government has
streamlined its complex visa system in a phased manner to make it more user-friendly. Initially, the main visa categories were reduced from 22 to 13 in October 2025. More recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced a further reduction from 13 main categories to just nine. The number of sub-categories has also been cut from a high of 63 down to 23. Officials state this consolidation was done after studying international standards to provide greater clarity for applicants and facilitate legitimate travel. In addition to reducing categories, the application forms themselves have been made leaner, with the number of required information fields cut by as much as 70%.
The New 'Visitor Visa'
One of the most significant changes is the rebranding and expansion of the 'Tourist Visa'. It is now called the 'Visitor Visa', a name change that reflects its much broader scope. This new category is split into two sub-types. The V-1 visa is designed for short-term visits of up to 30 days with multiple entries and covers a wide array of activities beyond simple tourism. This includes short business meetings, wellness retreats, medical consultations, and short courses in Indian languages, music, or art. For those planning longer or more frequent trips, the V-2 visa offers a validity of one, five, or ten years, covering all the activities of the V-1 visa plus specific pursuits like mountaineering.
The Nine Core Categories
Under the new framework, all travel purposes are consolidated into nine primary visa types, making it easier for applicants to choose the correct one. These categories are: Visitor Visa, Business Visa, Student Visa, Work Visa, Medical Visa, Diplomatic Visa, Official Visa, Journalist Visa, and a Miscellaneous Visa. The Miscellaneous Visa acts as a catchall for specific cases not covered elsewhere, such as for Persons of Indian Origin and their families or those joining certain foundations like Auroville.
Clearer Paths for Business and Study
The Business Visa has been reorganised into two distinct paths: B_1 and B_2. The B_1 visa is for long_term, license_based activities, such as establishing an industrial or business venture in India. The B_2 visa caters to short_term, contract_based work, including conferences, film shoots, and technical support provided by specialists. Similarly, the Student Visa is now divided into S_1 for school and university education and S_2 for more specialised academic pursuits like PhD research, internships, and exchange programmes. This clear segmentation helps applicants align their visa with their specific purpose in India.
Medical Travel Made Easier
To support India's goal of becoming a global wellness hub under the 'Heal in India' initiative, the Medical Visa framework has also been refined. It retains separate provisions for conventional medical treatment (M_1) and traditional Indian systems of medicine, or AYUSH (M_3). A significant improvement is that both visa types will generally be granted for one year with multiple entries, facilitating follow_up treatments. Corresponding visas for medical attendants (M_2 and M_4) are also available, ensuring patients can travel with the support they need.
What Travelers Should Do Now
The Ministry of Home Affairs is in the process of updating its IT systems to reflect these changes, with the new visa framework expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026. Travelers planning a trip to India should familiarise themselves with the new categories to ensure they apply for the correct visa. The e–Visa facility, currently available to nationals of 172 countries, will also be aligned with this new, simplified structure. Before making any travel plans, it is always best to consult the official website of the Indian government's visa service for the most current information and application procedures.
