The Government of India has simplified its visa framework by reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also cut the number of fields in visa application forms by 65% to 70%, aiming to make the process easier and faster for foreign nationals visiting the country.
Announced on November 11, the revised framework is intended to facilitate international travel to India for tourism, medical treatment, education, research, investment and business. It also seeks to remove overlapping visa categories and provide clearer options based on the purpose of travel.
The latest changes follow an earlier exercise in October 2025, when the government reduced the number of main visa categories from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49. The latest rationalisation was implemented on August 27, 2026.
What Has Changed in India’s Visa Rules?
One of the key changes is the renaming of the Tourist Visa as the Visitor Visa. The government has also reorganised the Medical, Student and Business Visa categories to accommodate different purposes of travel.
Here are the major changes:
1. Tourist Visa Renamed Visitor Visa
The Tourist Visa has been replaced with the Visitor Visa, which covers tourism and several short-term activities, including business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-term medical treatment and courses in Indian languages, music, art and crafts.
The Visitor Visa has two sub-categories:
- V-1 Visa: Valid for 30 days with multiple entries. It covers eligible short-term activities, including business meetings, medical consultations and wellness retreats.
- V-2 Visa: Available for longer stays with validity of one, five or 10 years, depending on eligibility. It also covers mountaineering activities. A separate six-month multiple-entry visa will be available for mountaineering.
2. Medical Visa Gets One-Year Multiple-Entry Validity
The Medical Visa category has been reorganised while retaining separate provisions for conventional medical treatment and AYUSH-based healthcare.
- M-1 Visa: For medical treatment other than AYUSH systems.
- M-3 Visa: For treatment under AYUSH systems.
- M-2 and M-4 Visas: For attendants accompanying M-1 and M-3 visa holders, respectively.
The M-1 and M-3 visas, including their e-Visa versions, will have a default validity of one year with multiple entries.
3. Student Visa Divided into Two Categories
The Student Visa framework has been consolidated into two sub-categories to cover different academic and research activities.
- S-1 Visa: For school, graduate and postgraduate education.
- S-2 Visa: For PhD scholars, research students, visiting faculty, scientific and anthropological expeditions, internships, exchange programmes and other academic activities.
Foreign students admitted to Indian institutions through the Study in India portal may be granted an e-S1 Visa valid for up to five years or the duration of their academic programme, whichever is shorter. The visa will allow multiple entries.
4. Business Visa Reorganised into B-1 and B-2
The Business Visa category has been divided into two groups based on the nature and duration of business activities.
- B-1 Visa: Covers long-term, licence-based business activities, including setting up industrial or business ventures in India.
- B-2 Visa: Covers short-term, contract-based activities, including production investment, conferences, sports events, cultural performances and film shoots.
The revised framework also introduces a specific provision for foreign engineers, technical personnel and subject-matter experts working with Indian companies. They can obtain a Production Investment Business Visa under the B-2 category through the e-Visa platform. This facility was previously covered under the e-B4 visa category.
What Are the Nine Main Visa Categories in India?
Following the latest rationalisation, India’s visa system will have nine main categories:
- Business Visa
- Diplomatic Visa
- Work Visa
- Journalist Visa
- Medical Visa
- Official Visa
- Student Visa
- Visitor Visa
- Miscellaneous Visa
The Miscellaneous Visa category covers people of Indian origin, their spouses and children, dependants of foreign nationals holding long-term visas, and visitors to specified institutions such as the Auroville Foundation. It also includes stay visas for Afghan nationals and certain long-term visa provisions for citizens of neighbouring countries.
Visa Application Forms to Have 65%–70% Fewer Fields
Along with reducing the number of visa categories, the MHA has simplified application forms across all 23 sub-categories. The number of fields applicants are required to fill in has been reduced by 65% to 70%.
According to the ministry, the move will reduce the documentation burden on foreign applicants, simplify administrative procedures and help speed up visa processing without compromising the scrutiny process.
India currently offers e-Visas to citizens of 172 countries across 13 sub-categories. The MHA is also upgrading its information technology systems to accommodate the revised visa framework. Visas under the new system are expected to be issued by the end of 2026.