Glossary term · Visa & travel
e-Medical visa (also: e-MED visa, e-Medical Visa (e-M1 V)): The e-Medical visa is an electronic visa issued through India’s official e-Visa portal to foreign nationals travelling for medical treatment at a hospital in India.
The e-Medical visa is the online route for most international patients coming to India for treatment. You apply on the official Indian e-Visa portal with your passport page and a letter from the treating hospital. A May 2026 government release says the facility covers nationals of 172 countries. You must apply at least four days before arrival.
What do I need to apply?
- A passport valid for at least six months when you apply, with at least two blank pages.
- A scanned passport bio page.
- A letter from the hospital in India on its letterhead. The portal says it should show the tentative admission date and your name, nationality and passport number.
- The visa fee for your nationality, paid online. The portal states the fee is non-refundable.
When should I apply?
The portal allows applications from 120 days to 4 days before the date of arrival. Allow extra time if the hospital letter is not ready yet.
How long is it valid?
The portal’s category list shows the e-Medical visa as valid for one year from arrival with multiple entries. Older answers on the same site still show other figures. Check the current terms on the portal on the day you apply.
What happens on arrival?
You must enter through one of the designated international airports or seaports listed on the portal. Biometric details are captured at immigration. The e-Visa cannot be extended or converted. Travellers from yellow fever endemic countries must carry a valid vaccination card.
Ineligible applicants
The portal states that Pakistani passport holders, diplomatic or official passport holders and people endorsed on another person’s passport cannot use the e-Visa.
Questions people ask
Can my family come with me on the e-Medical visa?
Not on your visa. Each companion needs their own visa. The portal allows up to two e-Medical Attendant visas against one e-Medical visa. Each attendant applies separately with their own passport.
What if my treatment takes longer than planned?
The e-Visa itself cannot be extended or converted. If your specialist says you need to stay longer, the hospital and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office handle the next step. Raise it with the hospital’s international desk early.
Does IndiaMedica apply for the visa for me?
No. You apply yourself on the official portal. We help you get the hospital letter right and check your documents before you submit. Paying the fee and submitting the form stay in your hands, on the official site only.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.