How to Apply Medical Visa to India?

India is a country that is renowned for a lot of things such as its diverse culture, mouthwatering cuisines, rich history, and its warm hospitality. Not only that but India is also well known in the medical sector as India is ranked as one of the top countries for medical tourism. With a highly skilled workforce and cost-effective medical treatments, India is making a significant strides in the medical tourism sector. However, the key inquiry still remains as to how an individual can enter India for medical purposes and what are the steps necessary to enter India for medical reasons.

Foreign individuals must have a valid travel document to enter India including those that are seeking medical treatments. You can continue reading to discover the essential information about obtaining an Indian medical visa.

If an individual from a foreign nation wishes to travel to India for medical reasons, then he/she must apply for an Indian medical visa. India provides two categories of medical visas, which are: 

Indian Medical e-Visa: If you are seeking for convenience then you can opt for an Indian medical e-visa service as it is the most suitable choice. It’s important to note that India does not offer visa-on-arrival facilities. Therefore, it is important to acquire a travel document before your trip to India. The advantage of an e-visa is that there is no need to visit the Indian embassy. You can easily apply for this document from the comfort of your own home. Individuals holding ordinary passports from foreign countries are eligible to apply for medical e-visa. This type of visa allows for triple entry and permits a 60-day stay in India. The valid period of the visa is also 60 days. Following this period, it is essential to either renew your e-visa or apply for a traditional visa. Also, not all countries are qualified to apply for an e-visa. 

Indian Medical Visa: In cases you do not qualify for an e-visa, you have the option to submit an application for a conventional medical treatment visa. However, the downside is that you cannot apply for a traditional visa through online. A visit to the Indian embassy will be necessary and you may be required to arrange a visa interview to obtain your visa. 

Qualification for Applying for a Medical Visa to India

Here are the requirements for individuals seeking a medical visa to India:

1. Before applying for the visa, the applicant must obtain a medical consultation from a healthcare facility in their home country, which recommends specialized treatment in India.
2. The applicant must demonstrate their intention to receive treatment at recognized and established hospitals or treatment centers in India.
3. Priority for the visa is given to applicants with critical medical conditions such as cardiac disorders, organ transplants, neurosurgery, and other serious ailments.
4. Additionally, the applicant must have sufficient financial resources to cover the cost of the return ticket and all expenses related to the treatment.
5. It is important to note that the medical visa does not cover surrogacy purposes.

Steps on How To Apply For a Medical Visa

To apply for a medical visa to India, the following procedures must be followed:

1. Complete the visa application form accurately.
2. Print a copy of the application form after filling it out correctly.
3. Gather all the required documents as listed.
4. Visit the nearest Indian embassy in your country.
5. Submit the application form along with the necessary documents.
6. Wait for a maximum of 3 weeks for the visa approval. Once approved, you can schedule your travel dates.
7. Upon arrival at the airport, the visa will be stamped.

Required Documents

1. The passport must have at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages.
2. Recent passport-size photographs are required.
3. Photocopy of the passport.
4. Print out the visa application form.
5. Proof of residential address must be provided.
6. A medical document from the native country recommending a specific medical center for treatment is needed.
7. Passport copy of the attendant is required for the medical attendant visa.
8. Proof of relationship with the attendant must be submitted.
9. Medical reports from the doctor are necessary.

Documents That Are Required For An e-Medical Visa

The online e-medical visa application requires the following documents:

1. Passport: Ensure that your passport is currently valid and has at least 2 blank pages. If necessary, renew your passport. You will need to provide a scanned copy of your passport in PDF format during the online application process.
2. Digital Photograph: Submit a recent photograph of yourself in JPEG format. This photograph should reflect any changes that have occurred since your last picture was taken.
3. Credit or Debit Card: You will need a valid credit or debit card to make the payment for your visa application. Alternatively, you can also use a PayPal account for the payment.
4. Medical Letter: Obtain a Visa Invitation Letter from the hospital in India where you will be receiving treatment. If you are traveling to India through a facilitation company, they can also arrange this letter for you. The medical letter should be in PDF format.

After gathering all the aforementioned documents, the applicant is required to complete the online visa application form. The initial stage entails providing all the essential information, while the subsequent stage involves a personal questionnaire and uploading the aforementioned documents. If all the necessary preparations are made beforehand, the entire process can be completed within approximately 20 minutes. Should any inquiries arise, iVisa offers a 24/7 assistance service to address all concerns.

Visa Extension And Validity

Typically, a medical visa is valid for up to 1 year or the duration of the treatment, whichever is earlier. This visa permits the patient to enter the country a maximum of 3 times within a calendar year. It is important to note that the visa validity period commences from the date of issuance, not the date of entry into India. Should the patient require an extension, they must present a medical certificate and submit it to the state department and Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO). In such instances, the visa may be extended for an additional year.

Furthermore, the visa extension process can be pursued, but this time the Ministry of Home Affairs will handle the request and decide whether to grant or deny the extension based on recommendations from the FRRO or relevant state governments.

Visa For Attendant/Family Members

There exists a specific category of visa designed for individuals who wish to accompany a patient as their attendant. This visa is known as the Medical Attendant Visa. It allows for two attendants to accompany a single patient at any given time. It is required that these attendants have a blood relation with the patient. The attendants must apply for a separate visa and follow the same application process as the main applicant. The visa’s validity and extension policies are identical to those of the medical visa. In the event that a doctor wishes to accompany the patient, they too must apply for the medical attendant visa. Additionally, the attendants are obligated to register themselves with the local FRRO or FRO within 14 days of their arrival in India.

Visa Arrival Duration

Normally, it requires approximately 72 hours for the visa to arrive. However, urgent cases are handled with priority and can be processed in a shorter period, with the visa being granted on the same day. There is no requirement for individuals with critical medical conditions to be physically present during the process.

How To Obtain A Visa Invitation Letter?

Obtaining the Visa Invitation Letter (VIL) from the hospital is a straightforward process. Simply request your doctor to compose a letter detailing your medical condition, necessary treatment, and the duration of stay required for the treatment. To ensure that the letter bears the official stamp of the recognized institution. To avoid any inconvenience, you can contact Medsurge India a well-recognized medical company, to assist you through the entire process starting from choosing the hospital to your journey to India.

Fees for the Medical Visa

The visa application fees vary depending on the country from which you are applying. In certain cases, the fees may also differ if you require an expedited application process. Typically, the cost ranges from 80 to 100 US dollars.

Some countries, such as Japan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, have a medical visa fee as low as 25 US dollars. However, there are certain countries where no medical visa fee is applicable. 

Note: Please be informed that individuals holding green cards and long-term visas exceeding three years will not incur any reference fee.

Helpful: e-Medical Visa To India