Visa Changes: Travelling To India Gets More Easier

Article by Kumar Published on: 12:51 pm, 12 November 2026

In a major overhaul to the existing Visa system, the government of India has decided to make it easier for foreign nationals travelling into the country for various reasons. The move is likely to give a big boost to tourism, foreign investments and domestic study programs across the country.

As per official reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially reduced the number of main visa categories from 13 down to just 9, while sub-categories have been trimmed from 49 to 23.

Along with this change, visa application forms across all segments are getting reduced by 65 to 70 percent so visitors do not have to fill out lengthy paperwork anymore.

From now, the nine main visa types will be Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor, and Miscellaneous visas. The traditional Tourist Visa has been renamed as the Visitor Visa, which now covers short holidays, business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, and mountaineering.

These changes make it very simple for foreigners who want to combine sightseeing with medical checkups or cultural workshops during a single trip instead of applying for multiple Visas and going through tiresome process and undue delay.

Foreign professionals coming for short period can now apply easily under consolidated business sub-categories. Similarly, international students enrolling through the Study in India portal can receive multiple entry student visas valid for up to five years.

Also, people travelling to India for hospital treatments or wellness care will have lesser application hurdles to clear before securing the Visa.

These reforms are proposed a year after the previous changes introduced in October 2025 when the government reduced main visa categories from 22 to 13.