Infographic
A foreign national can have a living-donor transplant in India only with a near-relative donor and prior approval from an Authorisation Committee. A senior embassy official of the patient’s country must certify the donor–recipient relationship on Form 21. The committee and the embassy official also assess that the donation is voluntary. IndiaMedica never sources donors.
IndiaMedicaLiving-donor transplant approval path- 01Specialist assesses the caseThe transplant team reviews reports and decides whether a living-donor transplant may be suitable.
- 02Confirm a near-relative donorThe donor must be a near relative. Donors other than near relatives are not considered for foreigners.
- 03Embassy certifies Form 21A senior official of your country’s embassy certifies the relationship and verifies identity documents.
- 04Hospital assembles the fileForms, medical fitness reports, relationship evidence and affidavits are compiled and forwarded to the committee.
- 05Committee interviewDonor, recipient and family attend with original documents. The interview is video recorded.
- 06Decision issuedThe committee approves or refuses. Approval is tied to the named hospital and transplant team.
- 07Transplant may proceedOnly after approval can the surgery go ahead.
Who can donate to a foreign patient?
Indian law limits living donation for foreign nationals to near relatives. NOTTO lists parents, siblings, children, grandparents and grandchildren, and accepts a spouse as a near relative. A Goa state checklist states that Indian donors who wish to donate to a foreigner other than a near relative shall not be considered.
What is Form 21?
Form 21 is the certificate of relationship between donor and recipient for foreigners. A 2024 Lok Sabha answer states that a senior embassy official of the country of origin certifies the relationship. Where a country has no embassy in India its government issues the certificate. Form 21 also certifies the authenticity of identification documents.
What does the Authorisation Committee do?
Prior approval of the Authorisation Committee is required for a foreign national. The committee and the embassy official must assess and certify that the donation is voluntary. The Goa checklist describes an interview with both families present, original documents checked and the meeting video recorded.
What IndiaMedica will not do
IndiaMedica never sources, finds or introduces donors. It helps a family understand the documents and process with an accredited transplant hospital. Indian transplant law exists to prevent commercial dealing in human organs.
Do procedures differ between states?
The national law applies everywhere. Each state or hospital committee sets its own meeting schedule and document order. The transplant coordinator at the hospital confirms the exact list for your case.
Questions people ask
Can a friend donate a kidney to a foreign patient in India?
No. Official guidance for foreign nationals limits living donation to near relatives, certified by the embassy on Form 21. A Goa state checklist says donors other than near relatives are not considered for foreign recipients. IndiaMedica will not assist with any other arrangement.
Is approval valid at any hospital?
No. The Goa checklist states that approval is tied to the named hospital, transplant physician and surgeon, and is valid for a limited period. If plans change, the hospital must advise on whether a fresh application or extension is needed.
Sources
- Lok Sabha — Answer on organ transplants for foreign nationals, February 2024
- SOTTO Goa (Government of Goa) — Living donor transplant checklist
- NOTTO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — FAQs
- Directorate General of Health Services — Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act overview
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.