India Overhauls Visa System, Cutting Categories to Nine by 2026
- Main visa categories have been reduced from 13 to nine.
- Visa sub-categories have been cut from 49 to 23.
- Visa application form fields have been reduced by 65-70%.
- The new visa framework will be fully implemented by the end of 2026.
- Tourist visas are now renamed as Visitor visas with new validity options.
The Centre initiated these changes to simplify norms for foreign nationals visiting the country.
The ministry stated the changes aim to make the visa regime "more compact, coherent and responsive to the requirements of foreign nationals visiting India".
The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently updating its information technology systems to support the new framework. By the end of 2026, all visas will be granted according to this new structure.
Visa application forms simplified by up to 70%
This reduction in fields is part of the effort to simplify the visa process following the consolidation of categories.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has applied these form simplifications across the 23 remaining visa categories and sub-categories.
New structure for main visa categories
The Miscellaneous category covers persons of Indian origin and their families. It also includes dependents on long-duration visas, Afghan nationals, and individuals joining specific institutions like the Auroville Foundation.
Visitor and medical visa adjustments
The government has renamed the Tourist Visa as the Visitor Visa. This category is split into V-1 for 30-day short-term activities and V-2 for longer-duration visits of one, five, or 10 years.
Medical visas now include M-1 for conventional treatment and M-3 for AYUSH systems. Attendants for these patients receive M-2 or M-4 visas. All medical visas are granted for one year as a default with multiple entries.
This structure aims to give patients greater predictability for consultations, follow-up appointments, or staged procedures. Multiple-entry validity reduces the need for repeated applications during a course of care.
Student and business visa restructuring
Student visas are now consolidated into S-1 for general education and S-2 for research, faculty, and academic exchanges. The S-1 category covers school, graduate, and post-graduate education.
Foreign students using the Study in India portal may receive an e-S1 visa for up to five years or the duration of their course, whichever is less. These visas allow multiple entries to the country.
The e-S1 visa offers students a more identifiable pathway and greater certainty for academic planning. Longer validity linked to course duration aims to minimize procedural interruptions and ease travel during studies.
Business visas are now split into B-1 for long-term ventures and B-2 for short-term activities. The B-1 category covers long-term, license-based business activities for those establishing industrial or business ventures in India.
This split provides businesses with greater clarity when planning long-term investments versus short-term assignments.
These professionals perform tasks such as installation, commissioning, quality checks, maintenance, and training.
This replaces the previous e-B4 nomenclature.
The dedicated provision for technical specialists facilitates the timely deployment of expertise for setting up industrial facilities and technology transfer. This improves predictability for companies and foreign professionals.
Implementation of IT systems by end of 2026
The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently updating its digital infrastructure to support the new visa framework.
The revised visa system is expected to be in place by the end of 2026.
Historical context of visa regime rationalisation
The Ministry of Home Affairs previously announced the reduction of visa categories on August 27, 2026.
Current status of e-visa availability
E-visa services are currently available to nationals of 172 countries.
These visas are processed under 13 sub-categories.
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