India Simplifies Visa Norms; trimmed category, 70% slimmer forms
The government has simplified its visa regime by reducing categories from 13 to nine and slimming application forms by up to 70%, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Wednesday (Nov 11, 2026).
The “Tourist Visa” has been renamed the “Visitor Visa”, reflecting the wider range of permitted purposes beyond conventional tourism, the ministry said.
A special provision, Manufacturing Investment Business Visa, has been developed for foreign industry specialists, engineers and technical personnel employed by Indian companies in activities such as installation and commissioning, quality control and basic maintenance, manufacturing, IT, training, supply chain development, plant design and commissioning, senior management and technical support, including transfer of know-how, technology and services.
“The aim of this move is to make it more compact, cohesive and responsive to the requirements of foreign nationals visiting India. On August 27, 2026, the MHA reduced the number of major visa categories from 13 to nine and the number of sub-categories from 49 to 23,” it said.
This follows the earlier rationalization carried out in October 2025, when the main visa categories were reduced from 22 to 13 and the sub-categories from 63 to 49. In enacting the changes, the government studied the visa systems of developed countries and global standards.
The consolidation of similar purposes of travel aims to provide greater clarity and easier identification of the appropriate visa category while facilitating legitimate foreign arrivals, the ministry said.
Currently, e-visas are processed through Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) within 13 subcategories. The electronic visa facility is currently available to nationals of 172 countries.
As reported by The Hindu on November 4, the required fields/columns for all 23 categories/sub-categories in the visa application have been reduced by 65% to 70%. The initiative aims to reduce the amount of information required from foreign nationals, to simplify the visa form while maintaining the basic data necessary for visa processing. This will reduce the time and effort required to complete an application and increase administrative efficiency by facilitating a more targeted review and processing of visa applications. In order to implement all the changes made in the Indian visa regime, the Department is updating the IT systems. By the end of the year, visas will be issued according to the new rationalization.
The visitor visa category has been divided into two subcategories, V-1 and V-2, so that applicants can choose a visa appropriate to the nature and length of their proposed visit.
In addition to other eligible visitor activities, the V-1 visa covers short-term activities such as business engagements, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-term medical treatment, and short-term courses in Indian languages, music, arts, and crafts. Awarded for 30 days with multiple entries.
The V-2 Visa is intended for longer-term visits with validity of one year, five years, or 10 years. Includes activities permissible under V-1 and mountain climbing. A six-month multiple-entry visa will be granted for mountaineering.
By including a wider range of short visits in a clearly defined category, the new arrangement makes visa selection easier for travelers who may combine leisure with business meetings, medical consultations, wellness stays, cultural learning or short-term yoga programs, the ministry said. The longer-duration V-2 option provides continuity and convenience for eligible repeat visitors, while specific climbing provisions address the distinct needs of such travel.
The Medical Visa Framework maintains separate provisions for treatment under conventional and AYUSH systems. M-1 Visa covers medical treatment while M-3 Visa covers treatment under AYUSH schemes. M-1 and M-3 visas, including their e-visa variants, will be granted for one year as the default multiple-entry option. There are also corresponding visa provisions for doctors; M-2 and M-4 visas will be issued to accompany M-1 and M-3 visa holders.
This arrangement gives patients more predictability if treatment involves multiple consultations, follow-up appointments or sequential procedures. The validity of multiple entry may reduce the need for repeated visa applications in the course of care, while the distinct AYUSH provision helps applicants determine the appropriate course of treatment. The availability of accompanying visas also facilitates the support of accompanying persons. This will promote Medical Value Travel in India.
The student visa category has been merged into two broad sub-categories. The S-1 Visa covers school, graduate, and post-graduate education. The S-2 Visa covers PhD students and researchers at Indian universities, visiting faculty, foreign research students visiting India for research, scientific and anthropological expeditions, internships, and exchange students, among other specified academic activities.
International students enrolled in 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 the academic course, whichever is shorter, with multiple entries. These provisions offer students a more easily identifiable visa pathway and greater certainty for academic planning. A longer validity linked to the length of the course can also minimize procedural disruption and make it easier for eligible students to travel during their studies.
The Business Visa category has been consolidated into B-1 and B-2. The B-1 Visa covers long-term license-based business activities, including foreign nationals who wish to establish industrial or commercial enterprises in India. The B-2 Visa covers short-term contract business activities, including production investment business, conferences, sports, performing arts, and motion pictures.
This was previously granted under the e-B4 visa nomenclature. This differentiation provides businesses with greater clarity when planning long-term investments versus short-term contract orders. A dedicated provision for technical specialists can facilitate early deployment of expertise for setting up and operating industrial facilities, technology transfer, staff training and production support, improving predictability for companies and foreign experts alike.
Published – 11 Nov 2026 20:57 IST