India Visa Reform: Nine Main Categories, 23 Subcategories and Simplified Applications

The news

The Ministry of Home Affairs has simplified India's visa regime, reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and subcategories from 49 to 23. The changes, implemented on 27 August 2026, also cut the number of fields in the visa application form by 65 to 70 per cent. The government said it studied the visa systems of developed countries and global standards before making the changes.

The reform is the second stage of rationalisation: in October 2025, the main categories had already been reduced from 22 to 13 and subcategories from 63 to 49. The ministry said the objective is to make it easier for legitimate foreign visitors to identify the correct visa category and to facilitate tourism, medical care, education, research, investment and business. Electronic visa facilities are now available to citizens of 172 countries.

Medical visas have been split into M-1 for general treatment and M-3 for AYUSH treatment, both with a default one-year multiple-entry visa. The visitor visa, renamed from tourist visa, is now V-1 for short visits, medical consultation, wellness retreats and short-term courses in Indian art and culture, and V-2 for one-, five- or ten-year validity. Business visas are divided into B-1 and B-2, with B-2 covering technical specialists and engineers for machinery installation, production, training and industrial operations. Student visas S-1 and S-2 cover school and higher education, doctoral studies, research, internships and exchange programmes; eligible foreign students admitted through the Study in India portal can receive a multiple-entry e-visa for up to five years or the course duration, whichever is shorter.

What was the earlier visa structure?

The rationalisation was carried out in two stages. In October 2025, the government had already reduced main visa categories from 22 to 13 and subcategories from 63 to 49. The latest change on 27 August 2026 further compressed them to nine main categories and 23 subcategories, after the government studied visa systems of developed countries and global standards.

How do the new medical, visitor and business visas work?

Medical visas now have two distinct codes: M-1 for general medical treatment and M-3 for AYUSH treatment, both providing a one-year multiple-entry visa by default, with separate categories for accompanying assistants. The visitor visa, renamed from tourist visa, is split into V-1 for short visits, medical consultation, wellness retreats and short-term courses in Indian art and culture, and V-2 for one-, five- or ten-year validity. Business visas are divided into B-1 and B-2: B-2 can facilitate technical specialists and engineers working on machinery installation, production, training and industrial operations in Indian companies.

What are the intended benefits and the next step?

The government expects the simplified categories and shorter forms to support tourism, medical services, education and foreign investment. Eligible foreign students admitted through the Study in India portal can receive a multiple-entry e-visa for up to five years or the course duration, whichever is shorter. Consistent implementation and clear application guidance will be needed to realise the reform's facilitation objective.