How do I get a medical visa for treatment in India?
Most patients apply online for the e-Medical Visa on the Government of India portal, using an invitation letter from the treating hospital. Processing usually takes about 72 hours, so apply at least 4 days before you fly. The visa is valid for 60 days from first arrival, with three entries.
The steps below are the same for most nationalities. The application portal, the Indian mission and the flights differ by country, so our country visa guides add the details for your passport.
Massvaa Care helps you prepare the application and obtains the hospital’s invitation letter, but visas are issued by the Indian authorities alone. Rules change without notice, and the official portal is always the final word.
Step 1: How do I get the hospital’s invitation letter?
Choose your hospital and confirm your treatment plan. The hospital then issues a Visa Invitation Letter on its letterhead, and we usually obtain it within 1 to 2 working days of your confirmation. You upload this letter with your visa application, so it is the first thing to arrange.
The letter confirms that a recognised Indian hospital has reviewed your case and expects you for treatment. It is the document that makes the application a medical one, so the visa cannot be applied for without it.
If you are travelling with family members, tell your coordinator their names as they appear in their passports, so the hospital can reference them correctly.
Step 2: Am I eligible for the e-Medical Visa, or do I need a regular Medical Visa?
Citizens of more than 160 countries can apply for the e-Medical Visa online. Some nationals cannot: Pakistani nationals must apply at an Indian mission, and Afghan nationals use a dedicated Government of India portal. A regular Medical Visa from an Indian mission also suits longer treatment.
The e-Medical Visa is the quickest route for most patients. The regular, or sticker, Medical Visa is applied for at the Indian embassy or consulate, takes a minimum of 3 working days, and is the usual route when treatment is expected to last longer than the e-Visa allows.
Your passport must be machine-readable, valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, and have two blank pages.
Step 3: Which documents do I need?
You need your passport and a scan of its bio page, a recent photograph, the hospital’s Visa Invitation Letter, your medical reports with a referral from your own doctor, proof of funds, a return or onward ticket, and proof of your home address.
- Passport meeting the validity rule above, plus a PDF scan of the bio page.
- Recent colour photograph, white background, square format.
- Visa Invitation Letter from the treating Indian hospital, on letterhead and signed.
- Medical reports and a referral from a doctor in your own country.
- Proof of funds covering treatment and stay, usually a recent bank statement.
- Return or onward ticket.
- Proof of your residential address at home.
Some countries have extra requirements. Your country visa guide lists them where they apply.
Step 4: How do I apply and pay the fee?
Complete the online form on the official portal, upload your documents and photograph, and pay the visa fee online. The application window opens 120 days before arrival. Approval usually takes about 72 hours and arrives by email, so apply at least 4 days before you fly.
The visa fee depends on your nationality and changes from time to time. We do not publish a single figure, because the authoritative schedule is a document on the government portal. Check the current fee for your passport there before you apply.
Use only the official government website. Other websites that look similar may charge extra service fees.
Step 5: What do I need to do before landing and after arrival?
Within 72 hours before landing, every foreign national must file the e-Arrival Card online. It is an arrival declaration, not a visa, and it is free. Carry your printed visa, the invitation letter and your medical records in your hand luggage, and keep copies on your phone.
On arrival in Delhi your coordinator meets you, helps with a local SIM card using your passport and visa copies, and takes you to your accommodation or the hospital.
Can a family member travel with me?
Yes. Up to two blood relatives may travel on e-Medical Attendant Visas, applied for separately and referencing the patient’s file. Each attendant needs their own passport, photograph and proof of relationship, and their visa follows the patient’s, so apply for the patient first.
Attendants usually also need a copy of the patient’s visa, the hospital’s reference letter, accommodation details and financial documents. Applying for the patient first and the attendants straight afterwards keeps the files linked.
Do I need to register with the FRRO?
Not normally on a 60-day e-Medical Visa. Registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office within 14 days of arrival applies to stays that will exceed 180 days, which in practice means a regular Medical Visa rather than the e-Visa. Check the official FRRO portal if your plans change.
If your treatment runs longer than planned, a medical visa can be extended from within India through the online FRRO platform, based on the treating hospital’s recommendation. You do not need to leave the country to apply, and we help you with the paperwork.
Employment is not permitted on a medical visa.
Quick answers
How long does the India e-Medical Visa take?
Processing usually takes about 72 hours. Apply at least 4 days before you fly; the application window opens 120 days before arrival.
How long is the e-Medical Visa valid?
It is valid for 60 days from first arrival, with three entries. A longer stay needs an extension through the FRRO or a regular Medical Visa.
How many attendants can travel with a patient?
Up to two blood relatives may travel on e-Medical Attendant Visas, applied for separately and referencing the patient’s file.
This guide is general information to help you plan. It is not medical advice. Massvaa Care is a non-clinical facilitator: treatment decisions are made by you with the treating hospital’s specialists, and visa decisions by the Indian authorities.
