Infographic
The e-Medical visa is an online visa for foreign nationals travelling to India for medical treatment. You need a letter from the Indian hospital, then apply on the official e-Visa portal at least four days and up to 120 days before arrival. You receive an electronic travel authorisation by email. The visa is stamped at immigration in India.
IndiaMedicaHow the e-Medical visa works- 01Get the hospital letterThe Indian hospital writes on its letterhead with your name, nationality, passport number and tentative admission date.
- 02Check the application windowApply at least four days before arrival. The portal accepts applications up to 120 days ahead.
- 03Apply on the official portalUpload a recent photograph, your passport bio page and the hospital letter on indianvisaonline.gov.in.
- 04Pay the fee onlinePay by card or wallet. The fee is non-refundable and bank charges apply.
- 05Receive the ETAThe electronic travel authorisation arrives by email. Check the status shows GRANTED before you travel.
- 06Fly to a designated porte-Visa holders enter through designated airports or seaports. Land border entry is not allowed on an e-Visa.
- 07Biometrics and stampImmigration captures your biometrics and stamps the e-Visa in your passport on arrival.
What does the hospital letter need to say?
The official portal asks for a letter from the hospital in India on its letterhead. It should give your name, nationality and passport number and the date or tentative date of admission or treatment. The same letter is used for treatment under Indian systems of medicine.
When should you apply?
The portal states that you must apply at least four days before arrival. You may apply up to 120 days ahead. Pay the fee at least four days before travel as well. Apply only on indianvisaonline.gov.in and avoid look-alike sites.
What happens after you apply?
The electronic travel authorisation, or ETA, comes by email. Check on the website that the status reads GRANTED. Print the ETA and carry it with the hospital letter and your medical reports. At the immigration checkpoint your biometrics are captured and the e-Visa is stamped in your passport.
Plan the whole stay before you apply
The portal states that e-Visas cannot be extended or converted. Ask the treating hospital how long it expects you to need. If a longer stay may be needed, ask the hospital about the regular medical visa through an Indian mission.
Can family travel with you?
Yes. The portal allows up to two e-Medical Attendant visas against one e-Medical visa. Each attendant applies separately. The validity wording on the portal has differed between pages, so confirm the current validity and number of entries on the portal itself when you apply.
Questions people ask
Can I enter India by land on an e-Medical visa?
No. The official portal says land border entry is not allowed on an e-Visa. You must arrive through one of the designated airports or seaports listed on the portal. Check the current list before booking, as the portal’s figures have changed over time.
Who issues the e-Medical visa?
The Government of India issues it through the official e-Visa portal. IndiaMedica does not issue visas and offers no shortcuts. Your case manager can explain the steps and the hospital provides the letter, but you submit the application yourself on the official site.
Sources
- Government of India — Indian e-Visa portal
- IndiaMedica — Medical visa for India
- IndiaMedica — Plan your treatment
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.