What are the Different Types of Medical Visas for India?
Starting in 2014, the Indian government has made it simpler for international patients traveling to India for medical care. You no longer need to visit the Indian Embassy to apply for a visa. Patients from over 170 countries can apply online for an e-Medical Visa, eliminating the need for traditional paper visa paperwork.
Types of e-Medical Visa:
Patient Medical Visa: Patients seeking medical treatment can apply for an e-Medical Visa. E-Medical Visas are valid for one year or the duration of treatment, whichever is earlier.
Medical Attendant Visa: Attendants or family members of the patient coming to India may be issued a medical attendant visa (MED X Visa). Minor children accompanying a parent who comes to India on a medical visa may be issued an 'X-Misc.' Visa.
Who Qualifies for a Medical Visa?
- Non-Indian Nationals: Medical visas can only be issued to those without Indian citizenship.
- Medical Purpose: The primary motive for the trip to India must be for medical treatment under the Indian system of medicine.
- Specialised Facilities: The treatment must be conducted at a designated, recognised facility approved by the MCI, ICMR, NABH, or CGHS.
- Family Members: MED X visa can be issued to one or two family members of the patient. If the patient is a Bangladeshi national, three attendants can be allowed.
Eligibility Criteria for a Medical Visa to India
Suppose you have a question about applying for a medical visa to India. In that case, one important thing to keep in mind is that it involves specific criteria that must be met to assure that the travel is solely for medical treatment. Below is a more comprehensive review of that criteria:
Purpose of Visit
The applicant must travel to India specifically for medical treatment at a recognized registered hospital or healthcare facility. The visa is issued when the treatment falls under the approved medical conditions, such as cardiac and neuro-spine surgeries, gynecological surgery, organ transplant, cancer, orthopedic surgery, fertility treatments medical/ elective procedures such as cosmetic/ bariatric surgeries or other specialty medical care relating to treatment not available or at an exorbitant cost in the applicant’s country.
Invitation Letter from the Hospital/Clinic
The hospital or healthcare provider in India should provide a formal invitation or letter of confirmation for the treatment the patient would be receiving.
This letter acts as a formal letter of authorisation for the medical needs expressed by the patient and confirms the hospital's ability to provide the required medical needs.
Medical Attendant Visa (MX Visa) for Companions
A maximum of two relatives or attendants are authorized to accompany the patient under the MX Visa (Medical Attendant Visa).
Typically, these attendants are immediate family members, such as spouses, children, or parents. The attendant's visa is connected to the patient’s medical visa and has the same validity and duration as the medical visa. The Medical Attendant visa ensures the patient has emotional and logistical support during the treatment period.
India issues medical visas with varying durations, depending on the treatment timeline. The duration of a medical visa may also be extended with a relevant medical certificate and a hospital recommendation. In some medical procedures, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) will need to approve the visa duration for medical procedures, that exceeds a specific period of time.
What are the Essential Documents Required to File a Medical Visa?
- Passport Validity: Your passport must have a validity period of at least six months beyond the intended duration of stay within India and possess at least two empty visa stamp pages (blank pages). Carry a scanned copy of passport biographical page before you start the application.
- Passport-Style Photos: A soft copy of the visitor's recent color passport-style photo must be available when you are filling out the e-Medical Visa application.
- Medical Report: Medical reports detailing the medical condition and recommended treatment must be provided by a registered medical practitioner in the home country.
- Letter of Confirmation: Obtain a letter from the Indian Hospital or Treatment Centre in India confirming the appointment, approximate duration of stay, and approximate cost of treatment. It should be on official letterhead of the Hospital designated for your care.
- Proof of Financial Stability: Provide any combination of bank statements, tax return, or letter from sponsor to prove financial stability to cover medical expenses, accommodation, and travel.
- Airfare Return Tickets: A return ticket from the country should also be provided at the time of applying for visa,
- Documents Considerations: Depending upon persons or circumstances surrounding your treatment, additional documents may be required, such as passports for attendants with proof of relationship, medical certificates for specific medical conditions such as e.g. brain damage, or police clearance certificates.
What is the Process for Applying for an e-Medical Visa?
The e-Medical Visa application process for India is simple and efficient. The entire visa application process can be completed in a few simple steps.
- Application Online: You must visit the official portal for visa application to India and start the registration process. You must complete the basic information such as your date of birth, address, passport number, and personal details of your parents. You must upload a passport-sized color photograph in JPEG format and the first page of the passport highlighting personal information.
- Pay Fees: The next step is to pay the fees. You can use a debit or credit card to pay the visa fees. The visa fees depend on country, you can see the official fees for your specific country here. Please be advised that a banking charge of 2.5% will be applied in addition to the e-Medical Visa fees.
- Receive your ETA Online: Your Electronic Travel Authorization or ETA will be sent to your email. Generally, the average processing time for a visa is 2-4 business days. In an emergency, your visa could be processed within 24 hours.
- Fly into India: Once you have received your ETA you can print it and present it at the immigration point where your eVisa will be stamped in your passport. You can enter India at 31 airports and 5 seaports at this time.
Step-by-step Process on How to Apply for an Indian Medical Visa
The following detailed instructions will assist you in obtaining a medical visa for India without incident:
Step 1: Visit the Indian Embassy or eVisa Portal
Depending on your nationality and eligibility, you can apply for a medical visa through one of the following methods:
eVisa Portal
- You can visit the official Indian eVisa website at: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.
- This option is open for nationals from over 172 countries and you can do everything online, which is faster and easier! However, as an eVisa, this option may not be available to everyone.
- Please note that the eMedical Visa is valid for a period of 60 days from the date of entry into India, with a maximum of three entries allowed.
In-Person Application
- If your country doesn't qualify for an eVisa, or if you wish to stay longer, you can visit the nearest Indian embassy or consulate.
- For an in-person application; it is preferred to make an appointment so you won't need documents or interviews. Check out https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ for complete info.
Step 2: Fill Out the Application Form
- Choose "Medical Visa" in the available visa categories.
- Please fill in the requested personal details, including your full name, date of birth, and nationality.
- Fill in the requested passport details, including your passport number, date of issue/expiry, and the country of issue.
- Fill in the travel details requested, including a list of prior travel history, the dates you intend to travel, and the name and address of the hospital in India.
- The website also requires you to upload copies of certain documents, including:
- a copy of the bio page from your passport,
- a recent passport-sized photo, and
- a letter of invitation from the facility in India.
Step 3: Pay the Visa Fee
The cost of a visa varies by the nationality of the applicant, type of visa, and length of stay. Most times when applying through the eVisa portal you can pay using a credit/debit card or other accepted online payment options. If you are applying in-person, be sure to verify with the embassy the accepted forms of payment (some may require a demand draft or payment in cash). Be sure to obtain a payment confirmation receipt when you pay for your application, as this is necessary to track the status of your application.
Step 4: Submit the Application and Attend an Interview (if required)
Online Submission:
Once the visa fee is paid, submit a completed application form on the eVisa portal.
In-Person Submission:
If applying through the embassy, you may be required to submit printed copies of your documents.
Visa Interview (if required):
Some applicants may be requested to attend a visa interview. You should bring all applicable documents, such as:
- Medical invitation letter from the hospital.
- Doctor's medical history and recommended treatment.
- Proof of financial means (like bank statements).
Please be prepared to answer questions about your treatment plan, travel arrangements, and the duration of your stay.
Step 5: Wait for Approval
Processing Time:
Medical visas typically take 2-5 working days for processing, though this may vary with the time of year and the number of applications received by the consulate or embassy and nationality of the applicant. Some may take longer as the consulate or embassy may check documentation or take more time if it is determined further examination in your case is needed.
Visiting India on a Multiple Entry Visa:
Once approved, medical visas are good for multiple entries (depending on what treatment you are traveling to India for), which is helpful for medical follow up visits, or post-treatment care.
Tracking and Receiving Your Visa:
You can track the status of your visa application on the eVisa portal or the government of India's page where you completed your visa application. You will need your application ID and passport number. If you have applied for a visa in person, your visa will be stamped into your passport that you can either pick up in person or receive in the mail. If you applied for a medical visa as an eVisa, you will receive a digital visa via email. You should print and bring the e-visa approval with you to India upon arrival as approved documentation.
When you have completed this process, follow the instructions and your visa application will be processed in a timely, orderly manner minimizing the time it takes to receive a medical visa, or having to start the process over if an application is denied.
What is the Validity and Extension Procedure for e-Medical Visa?
- The original validity of a medical visa (MED Visa) and attendant medical visa (MED X Visa) is one year or the duration of treatment, whichever is less.
- However, the Indian Missions/ Posts abroad can issue a medical visa of 6 months validity with triple entry as a default option to all foreign nationals except nationals of Iran, Egypt, Libya, Qatar, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, Kuwait, Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, North Korea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Belarus, Somalia, South Sudan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka.
- The FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Office) or FRO (Foreigners Registration Office) concerned can extend the medical visa for a further period of up to one year. A medical certificate indicating the reason for the extension is required from a Government/ ICMR/ NABH/ MCI or CGHS recognized hospital.
To Conclude…
India has become a center of medical tourism, observing millions of patients each year from more than 170 countries. The Indian government has simplified the medical visa process to ease the hassles of international patients. You can now apply online, in a few simple steps which have been stated above in the blog. For high-quality treatment at affordable prices, obtain your visa today and visit India.