India makes major change to visa system, tourist visas to now be known as visitor visas

India has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its visa system, under which the number of main visa categories has been reduced from 13 to 9. According to an NDTV report, these new changes will facilitate easier travel for foreign tourists, business professionals, students, and patients arriving for medical treatment. As part of these reforms, the 'Tourist Visa' has been renamed to 'Visitor Visa', and the number of required details in the visa application form has been reduced by 65 to 70 per cent.

As part of efforts to make the visa application process simpler and more accessible, the Ministry of Home Affairs has reduced the number of visa sub-categories from 49 to 23. Once the necessary technology upgrades are completed, this revised system is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. Under the new rules, the scope of the Visitor Visa category has been made more extensive, allowing foreign nationals to engage in activities other than traditional tourism. This new category will include short-term business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, yoga programmes, and courses in Indian languages, music, arts, and crafts.

Under the Visitor Visa, V-1 visas will offer multiple entry facilities for 30 days, while V-2 visas will allow longer visits with validity of one, five, or 10 years, depending on eligibility. Mountaineering activities will also be covered under V-2, with a separate provision for six months of multiple entry. Foreign nationals coming for medical treatment will receive multiple entry visas for one year as a default. This includes traditional medical treatment excluding AYUSH under the M-1 category, and treatment under the AYUSH system, including Indian traditional medicines, under the M-3 category. Separate visas, M-2 and M-4, will be available for assistants accompanying the patient. The aim of long-term validity is to help patients receive consultations and follow-up treatment without having to apply anew frequently, supporting India's 'Heal in India' initiative.

Student visas have also been integrated into two categories. S-1 visas will include school, undergraduate, and postgraduate education, while S-2 will cover doctoral research, visiting faculty, internships, exchange programmes, and scientific expeditions. Foreign students gaining admission through the government's 'Study in India' portal may be eligible for multiple entry e-S1 visas valid for up to five years or the duration of their studies (whichever is shorter). Business visas are now divided into B-1 and B-2 categories. B-1 includes long-term professional activities and setting up industrial or commercial ventures in India, while B-2 includes short-term contract-based work, conferences, sports, cultural performances, film production, and specialised technical operations. Foreign engineers and IT professionals engaged by Indian companies may also come under B-2.

India currently offers electronic visa facilities to citizens of 172 countries through 13 e-visa sub-categories. The government is upgrading its information technology system to implement this revised framework. There will now be nine main categories: Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor, and Miscellaneous. The Miscellaneous category will include certain people of Indian origin, their families, and dependents of long-term visa holders. According to NDTV, the government studied international visa systems and global practices before making these changes.