India has launched a major overhaul of its visa system, simplifying a famously complex process. This move streamlines dozens of visa categories into a handful, a strategic effort to make the country more accessible for tourism, business, and study.
From 22 To 9: A Two-Step Simplification
The
journey to a simpler visa framework has been a multi-stage process. The headline figure represents a significant consolidation over time. In October 2025, the government first took on the complex structure, reducing the main visa categories from a cumbersome 22 down to 13. A second, more recent phase of rationalisation announced on August 27, 2026, further trimmed these categories from 13 down to the new total of nine. The number of sub-categories has also been dramatically reduced, from 63 to 49 in the first phase, and now down to just 23. This overhaul aims to eliminate confusion and overlap, making it much clearer for foreign nationals to identify the correct visa for their visit.
Meet the New 'Visitor Visa'
One of the most significant changes is the rebranding and expansion of the 'Tourist Visa' into the more versatile 'Visitor Visa'. This new category acknowledges that modern travel often blends purposes. The Visitor Visa is split into two sub-categories. The V-1 visa is designed for short-term visits of up to 30 days with multiple entries, covering not just tourism but also brief business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, and short courses in pursuits like yoga or Indian arts. For those planning longer or repeat trips, the V-2 visa offers validity of one, five, or ten years, depending on eligibility. It covers the same activities as the V-1 and also includes specific provisions for mountaineering expeditions.
Streamlined Paths for Students and Professionals
The reforms also bring much-needed clarity for those coming to India for education and work. The Student Visa is now consolidated into two main streams: S-1 for school, undergraduate, and postgraduate education, and S_2 for doctoral research, internships, visiting faculty, and exchange programs. For business travelers, the visa is now divided into B_1 for long_term ventures and B_2 for short_term contractual work, conferences, and technical assignments. A key introduction under the B_2 category is the 'Production Investment Business Visa', specifically for foreign specialists and engineers involved in tasks like equipment installation, quality control, and training. This change is designed to better support industrial projects and the transfer of technical expertise.
A Boost for Medical Travel and Digitalisation
Recognising India's role as a destination for medical care, the visa framework for patients has also been improved. The Medical Visa will now default to a one_year, multiple_entry validity, reducing paperwork for patients requiring extended or follow_up treatment. The system maintains a distinction between conventional medical treatments (M_1) and traditional AYUSH systems (M_3), with corresponding visa categories for medical attendants (M_2 and M_4). Beyond category changes, the entire application process is being digitised and simplified. The Ministry of Home Affairs is cutting the number of fields in application forms by $65$-$70$, a move that will significantly reduce the time and effort for applicants and enhance processing efficiency for officials. The updated IT systems are expected to be fully operational by the end of $2026$.
