India Medical Visa Guide for International Patients (2026)

What Is an Indian Medical Visa?

The Indian Medical Visa (MED visa) is a dedicated visa category issued to foreign nationals travelling to India specifically to receive medical treatment at recognised Indian hospitals. Unlike a tourist or business visa, the Medical Visa permits an extended stay tied to a written treatment plan, allows multiple entries, and covers hospital admission, follow-up review, and post-operative recovery within a single visa validity. It is the correct visa for surgery, oncology treatment, transplants, cardiac procedures, orthopaedic procedures, IVF cycles, and any structured multi-visit treatment plan.

The Medical Visa also protects the patient legally. It links the stated purpose of travel to a specific hospital and treating physician, which is important if any complication requires an unplanned extension of stay or a second procedure. Travelling for treatment on a tourist visa is a common but risky shortcut — Indian immigration and hospitals increasingly verify visa category before admission for major procedures.

Two Types of Indian Medical Visa

India issues the Medical Visa in two formats. Choosing the correct one depends on your nationality, the length of stay you need, and how urgently you must travel.

1. Medical e-Visa

The e-Medical Visa is applied for entirely online. It is valid for up to 60 days from date of arrival with triple entry, which is well suited to a single surgical admission plus one review visit. Processing takes 3-5 working days for most eligible nationalities. It cannot be extended in India — for longer treatment you must apply for the sticker Medical Visa instead.

2. Sticker Medical Visa

The traditional sticker Medical Visa is applied for at the Indian mission (embassy or consulate) in your country of residence. It is valid for up to one year with multiple entry, extendable inside India for a further year through the FRRO. This is the correct category for oncology, transplants, extended orthopaedic rehabilitation, and any treatment plan requiring more than 60 days in India.

Documents Required

Both visa types require broadly the same supporting documents. HealYourTrip issues the invitation letter and coordinates directly with hospitals to keep documentation aligned with the visa category chosen.

Required documents:

• Passport with at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
• Recent passport-size photograph on white background
• Medical invitation letter from the treating Indian hospital (HealYourTrip issues this)
• Written diagnosis and treatment plan from a doctor in your home country
• Proof of financial capacity (bank statement or sponsor letter)
• Confirmed return flight itinerary (or evidence of intent to travel)
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate (for African nationals — mandatory)

Country-by-Country Processing Times & Fees

Fees and processing times vary by nationality and are set by the Indian mission in each country. The table below reflects 2026 published data for the most common HealYourTrip patient origins.

Expedited processing is available at some missions for genuine medical emergencies and typically requires a priority letter from the treating hospital. HealYourTrip has secured urgent letters from Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and Max within 24 hours for patients with time-critical diagnoses.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Applying for an Indian Medical Visa is a structured process. Following the steps below in order avoids the most common cause of rejection — an inconsistency between the invitation letter, treatment plan, and the visa category applied for.

Step 1: Share your diagnosis and reports with HealYourTrip via WhatsApp (+91 8971497072) or email (info@healyourtrip.com). Our medical team reviews your case within 24 hours and confirms the appropriate hospital.

Step 2: The treating hospital in India issues a formal medical invitation letter on hospital letterhead. This letter names the patient, the treating consultant, the diagnosis, the proposed treatment, and the expected length of stay in India.

Step 3: You complete the online visa application on the official Indian government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in for e-Visa) or download the offline form for the sticker visa. HealYourTrip's coordinator walks you through the form field-by-field to ensure the visa category and hospital details match the invitation letter.

Step 4: Pay the visa fee online (e-Visa) or at the mission counter (sticker visa). Retain the receipt — you will need it at Indian immigration.

Step 5: Attend the mission in person for biometrics if required (sticker visa in most countries) or wait for the electronic approval email (e-Visa). Print the electronic authorisation and carry the printed copy in your hand luggage.

Step 6: Arrive in India. HealYourTrip's airport representative meets you at the arrival hall, assists with immigration if any question arises about visa category, and drives you to the hospital or hotel.

Medical Attendant Visa

A patient travelling for treatment can be accompanied by up to two medical attendants (typically a spouse, parent, adult child, or professional carer). Each attendant applies for a separate Medical Attendant (MED X) visa. The MED X visa is linked to the patient's Medical Visa, matches its validity, and is issued on the same submission cycle. Documentation required is broadly the same as the patient plus proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or affidavit for non-relatives). Fees and processing times mirror the patient's Medical Visa category.

Common Rejection Reasons

Most Medical Visa rejections are avoidable. The most common causes:

• Applying for a tourist visa when the true purpose is treatment. Immigration cross-checks recent Indian hospital admissions against the visa category and may refuse boarding at the airport.
• Missing yellow fever certificate for African nationals. This is mandatory for entry into India from yellow-fever-endemic countries and is verified at Indian immigration.
• Invitation letter and treatment plan mismatch. The invitation letter must name the same consultant, diagnosis, and procedure as the home-country doctor's referral.
• Insufficient proof of funds. The mission wants evidence you can pay for treatment without becoming a burden on Indian public healthcare.
• Passport under 6 months validity or fewer than 2 blank pages remaining.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon can I fly to India after my Medical Visa is approved?

For an e-Medical Visa, you may travel as soon as the electronic authorisation lands in your inbox — typically 3-5 working days. For a sticker Medical Visa, once collected from the mission you may travel immediately.

Can I extend my Medical Visa inside India?

Yes — the sticker Medical Visa is extendable at the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) inside India for a further period, up to a total of two years, on production of a hospital extension letter. The e-Medical Visa is not extendable and must be replaced by a sticker visa for extended treatment.

Do I need to register with the FRRO after arrival?

Patients staying more than 180 days on a sticker Medical Visa must register with the FRRO within 14 days of arrival. HealYourTrip handles the entire FRRO registration on your behalf. Patients on an e-Medical Visa (60 days max) do not need to register.

Is my medical attendant allowed to work in India during my treatment?

No. The Medical Attendant Visa strictly prohibits employment in India. It permits the attendant only to accompany and assist the patient.

What if I need to travel urgently for emergency treatment?

Many Indian missions offer expedited processing for medical emergencies. HealYourTrip provides a priority hospital letter and can liaise with the mission on your behalf to compress the standard 3-5 day timeline to 24-48 hours where genuine urgency is documented.

Is a medical visa required for a video consultation only (no travel)?

No — a visa is only required when you physically travel to India. HealYourTrip arranges teleconsultations with Indian specialists at no cost and with no visa requirement, so you can validate your diagnosis and treatment plan before deciding to travel.

What Happens After Arrival at Indian Immigration

At Indian immigration, present your passport, printed e-Visa authorisation or sticker Medical Visa, hospital invitation letter, and yellow fever certificate (if applicable). Immigration officers routinely ask which hospital you are travelling to and the name of the treating consultant — the invitation letter answers both. Keep the letter in your hand luggage rather than checked baggage. Standard immigration processing for a Medical Visa holder takes 5-15 minutes at major arrival airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi).

How HealYourTrip Handles the Entire Visa Journey

For every patient, HealYourTrip's visa desk manages the full cycle from initial diagnosis review to arrival in India. This includes matching the correct visa category to the treatment plan, drafting and issuing the hospital invitation letter, guiding the online application field by field, tracking the mission's processing status, arranging expedited handling in genuine emergencies, coordinating the medical attendant visa for accompanying family members, briefing the patient on immigration questions to expect, and meeting the patient at the airport arrival hall on landing. There is no separate fee for the visa concierge service — it is included in the free HealYourTrip coordination package for every patient booked into our hospital network.