India plans to overhaul visas, reduce categories from 13 to nine and simplify application forms — What will change

The Union Home Ministry is planning a major overhaul of India’s visa system by reducing the number of major visa categories from 13 to nine and reducing visa application forms by 70%, PTI reported on Wednesday, citing officials.

These proposed changes are part of a comprehensive review of the 2019 Visa Manual, which is likely to include revisions to several chapters and annexes.

The overhaul is expected to cover all visa categories and sub-categories to bring India’s visa system in line with global norms, officials said, according to the news agency.

Key changes proposed in India visa review

As the news report states, the proposed reforms primarily focus on three key areas to simplify the visa application process for applicants:

Fewer visa categories: The number of main visa categories is expected to be reduced from 13 to nine.
Fewer subcategories: The number of subcategories is expected to be reduced from 49 to 23.
Shorter applications: Around 70% of the existing fields on visa application forms are expected to be removed, reducing the amount of information applicants have to provide.

Why is the government proposing these visa reforms?

A meeting was held in August to discuss changes to various Chapters and Annexes I and II of the Visa Manual 2019. During the meeting, it was decided to rationalize and simplify the Indian visa regime.

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The aim of the proposed reduction of application areas is to remove information that overlaps, repeats or is no longer necessary. If the changes are implemented, visa application forms will be simpler and more user-friendly.

However, the government has not yet announced the date of implementation of the proposed changes. The revised application forms and categories will be introduced only after the necessary modifications to the manual are completed.

Who can benefit from the visa changes?

The proposed reforms are expected to benefit foreign nationals applying for Indian visas across various categories, including tourists, business travellers, students and professionals.

Fewer visa categories and shorter application forms would make it easier for applicants to identify the appropriate visa type and complete the application process. This step is also likely to reduce confusion caused by overlapping categories and repeated requests for information.

However, until the revised framework is formally implemented by the government, existing visa categories and application requirements will continue to apply to visa applicants from other countries.

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India recorded around 6.91 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in August 2026, up 10.6% from around 6.25 million in the same month last year, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism.

Bangladesh accounted for the largest increase in tourist arrivals in August, with more than 74,000 visitors traveling to India from the neighboring country. This marked an almost 80% increase compared to the same month last year.

Arrivals from China also saw a sharp rise, with more than 9,000 tourists visiting India in August, more than double the number reported a year earlier.

In comparison, growth from traditional Western markets remained modest. Tourist arrivals from the US and the UK increased by around 3% year-on-year.

Other countries, including Canada, Germany, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, saw arrivals increase by 10-15% in the same month.