India’s e-Medical visa in 2026: what changed, and what to do
The e-Medical visa is now valid for a year from arrival with multiple entries. Many websites still describe the old 60-day rule.
Visa & Travel · 6 October 2026 · By Nikhil Sharma, Founder
If you are travelling to India for treatment, the e-Medical visa is usually the right visa. According to the official Indian e-Visa portal, it is valid for one year (365 days) from the date of arrival and allows multiple entries. Up to two family members or carers can travel on e-Medical Attendant visas linked to the patient’s visa.
The old rule you will still see online
Earlier Ministry of Home Affairs guidance described the e-Medical visa as valid for 60 days with triple entry. That guidance is still copied across many medical tourism websites. The official portal now states the one-year, multiple-entry terms — check it yourself before you apply, because visa rules can change.
What you need
- A passport valid for the period the portal requires
- A letter from the Indian hospital on its letterhead, stating your date or tentative date of admission
- A recent photograph and the passport bio page scan
- For attendants: their own passport scans, linked to the patient’s application
When to apply
The portal states that you apply at least 4 days and up to 120 days before arrival. In practice, apply once your hospital has issued its letter and your admission date is reasonably firm.
Only use the official portal
The only official site is indianvisaonline.gov.in. Look-alike sites charge extra fees for the same application.
If treatment may run long
The portal states that e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. If your specialist expects a long course of treatment, ask the hospital and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) about the regular Medical visa route before you travel.
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General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change — always confirm with the official source.
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