Most patients travel on India’s e-Medical visa. According to the official e-Visa portal it is valid for one year from arrival with multiple entries, and up to two family members or carers can travel on e-Medical Attendant visas.
Why this page exists
Many websites still describe an older rule — a 60-day, triple-entry e-Medical visa — from earlier government guidance. The current portal says otherwise. Always check the official portal before you apply: rules can change.
e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant visa at a glance
| Item | What the official portal says |
|---|---|
| Validity | One year (365 days) from the date of arrival |
| Entries | Multiple |
| Attendants | Up to two e-Medical Attendant visas per e-Medical visa |
| When to apply | At least 4 days and up to 120 days before arrival |
| Key document | Letter from the Indian hospital on its letterhead with the date or tentative date of admission |
| Extension | e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible |
| On arrival | Biometrics are captured at the port of arrival |
Source: Indian e-Visa portal, Government of India, checked 6 October 2026. Eligible nationalities and designated airports and seaports are listed on the portal.
How to apply, step by step
- Get the hospital letter. Once you choose a hospital, it issues a letter on its letterhead with your admission date. Hospitals registered on the government’s Medical & Ayush Visa portal generate invitation letters there.
- Apply online on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in — not through look-alike sites. Upload the hospital letter and your passport details.
- Attendants apply separately for e-Medical Attendant visas, linked to the patient’s application.
- Travel with printouts of the electronic travel authorisation, the hospital letter and your medical reports.
Regular Medical visa and FRRO registration
If treatment may last longer than an e-Visa allows, the regular (sticker) Medical visa is applied for through an Indian mission. Earlier Ministry of Home Affairs guidance links it to the length of treatment and allows up to two attendants on Medical Attendant visas. Longer stays may require registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which is done online through e-FRRO.
Sources: MHA visa annex (2020); Bureau of Immigration — Medical & Ayush Visa portal. Registration rules were revised under the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 — confirm current timelines with the FRRO before you travel.
Ayush visa for Ayurveda and wellness
In July 2023 India created an Ayush visa category for foreign nationals seeking treatment under Indian systems of medicine — including Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy — with attendant visas for companions. The e-Visa portal lists e-Ayush and e-Ayush Attendant visas.
Source: Press Information Bureau, 2023; Indian e-Visa portal.
Beware of look-alike visa websites
Several private websites charge extra fees to “process” Indian e-Visas. The only official site is indianvisaonline.gov.in. IndiaMedica never charges for visa guidance.
Questions
How long is the India e-Medical visa valid?
According to the official e-Visa portal, the e-Medical visa is valid for one year (365 days) from the date of arrival, with multiple entries.
How many people can travel with the patient?
Up to two e-Medical Attendant visas can be granted against one e-Medical visa.
When should I apply?
At least 4 days and up to 120 days before your arrival date, on the official portal indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Can the e-Medical visa be extended?
The portal states that e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. If treatment may run longer, ask your hospital and the FRRO about the regular Medical visa route before you travel.
Is there a visa for Ayurveda treatment?
Yes. India introduced an Ayush visa category in 2023 for treatment under Indian systems of medicine, and the e-Visa portal lists e-Ayush and e-Ayush Attendant visas.