Country guide · East Africa
Somali nationals cannot use India’s e-Visa, so a patient needs a regular medical visa from an Indian mission. Official advisories show applications being taken at the High Commission of India in Nairobi and the Embassy of India in Addis Ababa. Both ask for a local doctor’s referral, a letter from the Indian hospital and vaccination certificates.
| Country | Somalia |
| Indian e-Visa (e-Medical) | Not on the e-Visa list — apply for a regular medical visa through the Indian mission |
| IndiaMedica edition | English |
Can Somali nationals apply for an Indian e-Medical visa?
No. Somalia does not appear on the list of countries eligible for the Indian e-Visa on the official portal. A Somali patient therefore applies for a regular medical visa through an Indian mission and the attendant applies for a medical attendant visa.
Somalia is nonetheless one of the largest sources of medical travellers to India. PIB’s May 2026 backgrounder records 11,506 arrivals from Somalia for medical treatment in 2025, the fourth highest of any country.
Where do Somali patients apply?
The High Commission of India in Nairobi states that visa services for Somali nationals resumed there on 29 January 2024. Applicants book an appointment online and must attend the mission in person. In critical cases a blood relative who will travel as the medical attendant may approach the mission with the application on the patient’s behalf. Truly urgent medical cases can email the visa section with proof and ask for an expedited appointment.
The Embassy of India in Addis Ababa has also published guidelines for medical visas for Somali nationals. It says one attendant may accompany the patient, with one more allowed in exceptional cases.
What should a Somali patient prepare?
- A passport and a copy of its personal details page.
- A referral letter from a local doctor or hospital giving the diagnosis.
- An invitation letter from the Indian hospital naming the patient and attendant with their passport numbers and the illness.
- Yellow fever and polio vaccination certificates, which the Addis Ababa guidelines list as required.
- A certificate of non-criminal record and a recent bank statement, or a sponsor’s letter with a copy of the sponsor’s passport.
- A parental authorisation letter if the patient is under 18 and travels without a parent.
No agent is needed
Both missions warn applicants not to pay middlemen or touts. The Nairobi advisory says no other payment is due to anyone at any stage. Apply directly and keep copies of every document you submit.
Which language edition should Somali families use?
IndiaMedica’s English edition is the reference version of every page. Hospital letters, discharge summaries and visa forms for India are in English, so a family member who reads English well is a real help during the trip.
Which Indian cities can a patient fly into?
A regular visa is not tied to the e-Visa airport list. The large hospital cities covered in our destination guides, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, all have international airports. Your hospital and case manager can advise on the arrival city once the treatment plan is agreed.
What practical points matter on arrival?
India’s customs rules list narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as prohibited imports, so carry any controlled medicine with a doctor’s prescription and ask the Indian hospital in advance. Foreign currency above prescribed limits must be declared on arrival.
How does IndiaMedica help Somali patients?
We review your reports free, ask suitable hospitals for an opinion and help you obtain a correctly worded invitation letter for the mission. We do not apply for visas on your behalf. Partner hospitals pay us a disclosed referral fee that never changes your price.
Questions people ask
Is Somalia on the yellow fever list that India uses at its airports?
Somalia is not on the list reproduced by India’s Ministry of Health. The Addis Ababa guidelines still ask Somali applicants for a yellow fever certificate with the visa application. Carry the original certificate when you travel.
Can a relative apply for the visa if the patient is too ill to attend?
The Nairobi advisory allows a blood relative who will act as the medical attendant to approach the mission with the application in critical cases. Contact the mission’s visa section first and explain the situation.
Sources
- Indian e-Visa portal, Bureau of Immigration, Government of India
- Medical and Wellness Tourism in India, PIB (2 May 2026)
- Advisory for Somali nationals, High Commission of India, Nairobi
- Guidelines for medical visa by Somali nationals, Embassy of India, Addis Ababa
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.