If you are travelling to India specifically for medical treatment, the visa process usually begins after an Indian hospital has reviewed your case. For eligible travellers, India offers an e-Medical Visa, and the application requires supporting documentation from the hospital concerned in India.
The practical sequence is: choose a hospital → send your medical records → receive the hospital letter → prepare your documents → apply for the appropriate Medical Visa → wait for approval → plan travel.
Who Needs a Medical Visa for India?
If the main purpose of your trip is planned medical treatment, use the visa category that matches that purpose. India’s e-Visa system includes an e-Medical Visa for eligible international patients.
The e-Medical route is not available to every traveller. Eligibility depends on nationality, passport type and other circumstances. The official e-Visa guidance states that diplomatic or official passport holders and certain travel-document holders are not eligible for e-Visa. Travellers holding a Pakistani passport or with Pakistani origin are directed to use the regular visa route through an Indian Mission.
Should You Choose a Hospital Before Applying?
Yes. For the e-Medical Visa process, the hospital normally comes first. The official requirements include a letter from the hospital concerned in India confirming the proposed treatment or admission.
If you are still comparing hospitals, do that before starting the visa application. Review the specialist, hospital branch, proposed treatment, expected stay and written treatment estimate. You can browse hospitals in India, compare specialist doctors and explore treatment options.
Once a hospital has reviewed your case and agreed to receive you, ask its international-patient team for the documentation needed for your visa application.
What Should the Hospital Letter Include?
The hospital letter is a key document for an e-Medical Visa. Current Government of India guidance says it should be issued by the hospital concerned in India on its letterhead and include the tentative date of admission or treatment.
The official e-Visa FAQ also specifies the patient’s name, nationality and passport number.
- Patient’s full name exactly as shown in the passport
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Hospital name and official letterhead
- Proposed or tentative admission/treatment date
What Documents Do You Need for an India e-Medical Visa?
The exact upload specifications can change, but the current official e-Visa instructions require the passport bio page, a recent photograph and the hospital letter for the medical applicant.
Core documents
- Passport. The official portal states that it should have at least six months’ validity at the time of application and at least two blank pages for immigration stamping.
- Recent digital photograph. Follow the current background, format and file-size requirements shown on the portal.
- Scanned passport bio page. It must be complete and readable.
- Indian hospital letter. It should confirm the proposed treatment or admission and match your passport details.
- Application information. Enter personal, passport and travel information exactly as requested.
How to Apply for a Medical Visa India
- Confirm eligibility. Check that the e-Medical Visa route applies to your nationality and passport.
- Have your medical case reviewed. Choose the hospital and obtain the required treatment or admission letter.
- Prepare the application files. Check the passport, photograph and hospital letter before uploading anything.
- Complete the application online. Use the official Government of India e-Visa portal rather than an imitation or unofficial visa website.
- Upload the requested documents. Make sure scans are readable and meet the current format and size rules.
- Pay the applicable fee. e-Visa fees are country or territory specific and bank transaction charges may apply.
- Wait for the decision. Submitting an application is not the same as having permission to travel. Check that the ETA status is shown as GRANTED.
- Check the issued details before flying. Verify your name, passport number, visa category, validity and entry conditions.
How Long Does an India Medical Visa Take?
The current Government of India instructions state that eligible e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant applicants may apply online at least four days before the date of arrival, and the application can be made up to 120 days before the proposed travel date.
The four-day rule is an application deadline, not a guaranteed processing time. The official FAQ says applicants are notified of the visa decision by email, but it does not promise that every application will be decided within a fixed number of days.
For scheduled surgery or another fixed admission date, apply once the hospital paperwork is correct and leave time for a document re-upload or correction.
How Long Is an India e-Medical Visa Valid?
As of September 2026, the current official Government of India e-Visa website contains conflicting information about e-Medical Visa validity. Its visa-category panel lists e-Medical Visa categories with a duration of one year (365 days) and multiple entry, while the FAQ on the same official website states that an e-Medical Visa is valid for 60 days from the first arrival with triple entry.
Because those statements appear on the same official government website, do not rely on a generic duration quoted by a third-party article. Use the validity and entry conditions shown for your own application and issued ETA/visa. If anything is unclear, contact the official e-Visa helpdesk before booking travel around a particular stay length.
Can a Family Member Come With You?
India provides an e-Medical Attendant Visa for eligible companions. Current e-Visa instructions state that up to two e-Medical Attendant Visas may be granted against one e-Medical Visa.
This can be particularly useful for a patient travelling for major surgery, cancer treatment, rehabilitation or treatment that may temporarily reduce mobility or independence.
Plan the companion’s visa, flight and accommodation at the same time as the patient’s arrangements so the dates remain aligned.
Where Can You Enter India With an e-Medical Visa?
e-Visa holders must enter through a permitted immigration checkpoint. The official e-Visa website publishes the current list of designated airports and seaports, and that list can change.
Before buying flights, check that your intended arrival airport is currently accepted for e-Visa entry and that it makes sense for the hospital branch treating you. For the practical trip after the visa stage, see our Travel to India for Medical Treatment guide.
How Much Does the India Medical Visa Cost?
There is no single visa fee for every nationality. The Government of India states that e-Visa fees are country or territory specific, and bank transaction charges may apply.
Check the fee shown on the official portal for your nationality rather than relying on a generic price quoted by a third-party website. The Government of India also warns travellers not to pay agents claiming to offer a special emergency or express e-Visa service.
For the wider medical-trip budget, including hospital estimates, accommodation and local costs, use our Treatment Cost in India guide.
Can You Get a Medical Visa for Ayurveda or Ayush Treatment?
The official e-Visa portal includes a medical route for eligible treatment under Indian systems of medicine and lists documentation requirements for e-Ayush medical purposes.
If you are travelling for Ayurveda or another recognised Indian system of medicine, check the exact category shown on the official portal for your treatment and institution before applying. A medical-treatment journey is different from a general wellness holiday.
Common Medical Visa Application Problems
- Hospital letter does not match the passport: check the full name, passport number and nationality.
- Applying before the hospital is confirmed: the e-Medical application relies on hospital documentation.
- Unreadable uploads: unclear scans or photographs can cause problems with the application.
- Passport validity is insufficient: check the six-month requirement and blank pages before you begin.
- Using an unofficial website: apply through the Government of India portal and be cautious with sites promising special or express approval.
- Booking inflexible travel too early: wait until your visa and medical schedule are sufficiently clear.
- Assuming one generic validity period: the official site currently contains conflicting validity information, so check the conditions shown on your own issued ETA or visa.
Medical Visa India Checklist
Before applying
- I have confirmed that the e-Medical route applies to my nationality and passport.
- I have chosen the Indian hospital and it has reviewed my case.
- I have the hospital letter on official letterhead.
- My name, nationality and passport number are correct on the hospital letter.
- My passport has at least six months’ validity at application and at least two blank pages.
- My photograph and passport scan meet the current portal requirements.
Before booking the trip
- My ETA or visa has been granted and I have checked all details.
- I have confirmed the hospital branch and arrival date.
- I have checked the current permitted e-Visa entry point.
- My companion, if travelling, has checked the appropriate visa requirements.
- I understand the validity and entry conditions shown on my issued ETA or visa.
- I have a return or onward journey ticket as required by the official e-Visa guidance.
Before flying
- I am travelling with the same passport used in the visa application.
- I have a copy of the granted ETA and key hospital documents.
- I have the hospital contact details and essential medical records.
- I know where I am going after arrival.
- I have checked the practical travel plan in the Medical Travel to India guide.
How Medical Help India Can Help Before You Apply
Medical Help India is an independent healthcare connection platform. We do not issue visas and we do not make visa decisions.
If you have not yet chosen a hospital, you can share your case and, with your consent, Medical Help India will connect you with relevant healthcare providers who can help coordinate suitable hospital and doctor options, appointments, travel support, admission and follow-up.
Our services are FREE, and using our services does not increase your hospital bill.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for an India e-Medical Visa before choosing a hospital?
Usually no. The current e-Medical Visa requirements include a letter from the Indian hospital confirming the proposed treatment or admission, so the hospital normally needs to review your case first.
What should the hospital letter contain?
The official e-Visa guidance says the hospital letter should be on the Indian hospital’s letterhead and include the tentative date of admission or treatment. The e-Visa FAQ also specifies the patient’s name, nationality and passport number.
How early can I apply for an e-Medical Visa?
Current Government of India instructions state that eligible applicants can apply at least four days before arrival and up to 120 days before the proposed travel date.
How long is the India e-Medical Visa valid?
The current official e-Visa website is internally inconsistent: its visa-category panel shows one year with multiple entry for e-Medical categories, while its FAQ states 60 days from first arrival with triple entry. Check the validity and entry conditions on your own issued ETA or visa before planning the trip.
Can someone accompany me on a Medical Attendant Visa?
Yes. Current e-Visa instructions state that up to two e-Medical Attendant Visas may be granted against one e-Medical Visa, subject to eligibility and current rules.
Can an India e-Medical Visa be extended?
The current Government of India e-Visa FAQ states that e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible. If your treatment is expected to require a longer stay, clarify the correct visa route with the relevant Indian authorities before travelling.
Official Source Checked
This guide was reviewed against the current Government of India e-Visa portal. Because visa information can change and the current portal itself contains conflicting e-Medical validity information, always recheck the conditions shown for your individual application immediately before making travel decisions.