India has announced a major visa rule overhaul in 2026, simplifying entry procedures for foreign nationals by reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23. Announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 11, 2026, the reforms aim to make travelling to India easier for international tourists, medical travellers, students, researchers, investors and business professionals.
One of the biggest changes is the renaming of the existing Tourist Visa as the Visitor Visa, alongside simplified medical, student and business visa categories. The government has also reduced the information required in visa application forms by approximately 65–70%, making the application process less complicated for foreign visitors.
The revised framework is expected to improve India’s international accessibility, encourage tourism and support medical travel, education and business opportunities. The new visa system is expected to become operational by the end of 2026.
What Are the New Visa Rules in India for 2026?
India’s new visa framework reduces the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23. The changes are designed to simplify visa classifications and make the application process more convenient for international travellers.
The nine main visa categories under the revised framework are:
- Business Visa
- Diplomatic Visa
- Employment Visa
- Journalist Visa
- Medical Visa
- Official Visa
- Student Visa
- Visitor Visa
- Miscellaneous Visa
The reforms also introduce revised sub-categories to accommodate different travel purposes, including short-term business activities, medical consultations, educational programmes, research assignments and cultural experiences.
India Renames Tourist Visa as Visitor Visa
One of the most significant changes in India’s new visa policy is the renaming of the Tourist Visa as the Visitor Visa.
The new Visitor Visa category has been divided into two sub-categories, V-1 and V-2, to accommodate both short-term visits and longer stays.
V-1 Visitor Visa: Short-Term Visits
The V-1 Visitor Visa will be granted for 30 days with multiple entries. It will cover several short-term activities, including:
- Tourism and travel-related visits
- Business meetings
- Medical consultations
- Wellness retreats
- Short-duration medical treatment
- Courses in Indian languages
- Music, art and craft courses
This expanded category is intended to make it easier for foreign nationals to visit India for different short-term purposes without navigating multiple visa classifications.
V-2 Visitor Visa: Long-Term Visits
The V-2 Visitor Visa will accommodate longer stays, with validity options of one, five or 10 years, subject to eligibility.
A separate six-month multiple-entry provision has also been introduced for mountaineering activities.
The revised Visitor Visa framework provides greater flexibility for international travellers who want to explore India, participate in cultural activities or undertake eligible longer-term visits.
New Medical Visa Rules to Support Medical Tourism in India
India has also streamlined its Medical Visa framework to support the country’s growing medical tourism sector.
The revised system distinguishes between conventional medical treatment and healthcare services provided under AYUSH systems.
The new medical visa categories include:
M-1 Medical Visa
The M-1 category covers medical treatment other than AYUSH-based healthcare. It is intended for foreign nationals travelling to India for eligible medical procedures and treatments.
M-3 AYUSH Medical Visa
The M-3 category is specifically designed for foreign nationals seeking treatment under India’s AYUSH healthcare systems.
Both categories, including their e-Visa variants, will ordinarily be granted for one year with multiple entries.
M-2 and M-4 Medical Attendant Visas
The government has also introduced dedicated attendant visa categories for people accompanying medical travellers:
- M-2: Attendant visa associated with the M-1 medical category.
- M-4: Attendant visa associated with the M-3 AYUSH medical category.
These changes aim to make medical travel to India more convenient for international patients and their accompanying family members or attendants.
New Student Visa Categories for International Students in India
India has revised its Student Visa framework to accommodate different types of educational programmes, research activities and academic exchanges.
The revised system introduces two primary categories: S-1 and S-2.
S-1 Student Visa
The S-1 category covers foreign students pursuing:
- School education
- Undergraduate programmes
- Postgraduate programmes
S-2 Student Visa
The S-2 category includes:
- Research scholars
- PhD candidates
- Visiting faculty
- Internships
- Academic exchange programmes
Eligible international students admitted through the Study in India portal may receive multiple-entry e-S1 visas valid for up to five years or the duration of their academic programme, whichever is shorter.
The changes are expected to simplify educational travel to India and strengthen the country’s position as an international study destination.
New Business Visa Rules for Foreign Professionals and Investors
India’s revised Business Visa framework introduces two categories, B-1 and B-2, to distinguish between long-term business activities and short-term professional assignments.
B-1 Business Visa
The B-1 category covers long-term business activities, including establishing industrial and commercial ventures in India.
It is intended to facilitate eligible foreign investors and business professionals undertaking longer-term commercial activities.
B-2 Business Visa
The B-2 category covers short-term professional and business assignments, including:
- Contractual assignments
- Business conferences
- Sports-related activities
- Cultural performances
- Film-related activities
The revised framework also includes provisions for foreign engineers, technical specialists and subject-matter experts working with Indian companies.
These assignments may involve installation, maintenance, training, production and technology-transfer activities.
The changes aim to make business travel to India more accessible while supporting international collaboration and investment.
India Reduces Visa Application Paperwork by 65–70%
Another major highlight of India’s 2026 visa reforms is the reduction in application paperwork.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has reduced the number of fields and columns required across all 23 visa sub-categories by approximately 65–70%.
This means foreign nationals will need to provide significantly less information when completing their visa application forms, while still submitting essential details required for processing.
The expected benefits include:
- Shorter and simpler application forms
- Less repetitive information
- Reduced time and effort for applicants
- Improved administrative efficiency
- A more convenient visa application experience
The reduction in paperwork is an important step towards making India’s visa application process more user-friendly for international travellers.
When Will India’s New Visa Rules Come Into Effect?
India’s revised visa framework is expected to become operational by the end of 2026.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is upgrading its information technology systems to implement the new visa classifications and application procedures.
Currently, India’s e-Visa facility is available to nationals of 172 countries across 13 sub-categories.
Until the transition to the revised system is complete, foreign travellers should continue following the existing visa application procedures and check the latest official guidelines before applying.
Travellers should refer to the official Indian Visa Online portal for updated application requirements, eligibility and visa information.
Official website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
How Will India’s New Visa Policy Benefit International Tourism?
India’s updated visa framework is expected to improve the country’s accessibility for international tourists and other foreign visitors.
By combining different short-term travel purposes under the Visitor Visa and reducing application paperwork, the government aims to create a more convenient entry process.
The reforms could benefit several sectors:
- International tourism: Simplified visitor categories could make travelling to India more convenient.
- Medical tourism: Dedicated medical and AYUSH visa categories could support international healthcare seekers.
- Education: Revised student categories could make India more accessible to international students and researchers.
- Business and investment: Updated business visa classifications could facilitate international commercial activities.
- Cultural tourism: Short-term courses in Indian languages, music, art and crafts could encourage greater cultural exchange.
Overall, the changes reflect India’s efforts to strengthen international connectivity and create a more streamlined travel environment.
