India simplifies visa rules, cuts main categories from 13 to 9

Detailed summary

The government has consolidated India's visa regime and sharply shortened application forms. The overhaul aims to ease legitimate travel while improving clarity and processing efficiency.

The government has simplified India's visa system by reducing the number of main categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23, officials told news agency Press Trust of India. The number of fields in visa application forms has also been cut by 65-70 per cent.

The changes are intended to make the visa system "more compact, coherent and responsive to the requirements of foreign nationals visiting India", the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

The ministry reduced the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23 on August 27. This followed an earlier exercise in October 2025, when the number of main categories was cut from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49.

"While considering the simplification of the Indian visa regime, the government studied the visa systems of developed countries and global standards," the ministry said. It added that combining similar purposes of travel would provide greater clarity, make it easier to identify the appropriate category and facilitate legitimate foreign arrivals.

E-visas are currently processed under 13 sub-categories and are available to nationals of 172 countries, according to the statement.

The former Tourist Visa has been renamed Visitor Visa to cover a wider range of purposes beyond conventional tourism. It has been divided into the V-1 and V-2 sub-categories.

The V-1 visa covers short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-duration medical treatment and short courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft. It will be granted for 30 days with multiple entries.

The V-2 visa is meant for longer visits and will be valid for one, five or 10 years, as specified. It covers activities permitted under V-1 as well as mountaineering. Those travelling for mountaineering will receive a six-month visa with multiple entries.

The Medical Visa framework retains separate provisions for treatment under conventional and AYUSH…

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