India e-Medical Visa: The Complete 2026 Guide for Patients & Attendants
Everything patients travelling to India for treatment need to know: eligibility, the hospital letter, 60-day triple-entry validity, the attendant visa, fees, and processing times — explained by a former Indian consular officer.
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If you or a loved one is travelling to India for treatment, the visa is the one part of the journey that must go right before anything else can. In my years processing consular applications, medical cases were the ones where a small paperwork slip caused the most heartbreak — a delayed surgery, a missed appointment window. So here is the complete, current guide to the India e-Medical Visa: what it is, who qualifies, the documents that actually matter, validity, the attendant visa, fees, and how to avoid the mistakes that get medical applications flagged.
What Is the India e-Medical Visa?
The e-Medical Visa is an electronic travel authorisation for foreign nationals coming to India specifically to receive medical treatment at a recognised hospital or treatment centre. It covers the treatments patients travel to India for most often:
- Surgery and post-operative care
- Cardiac care — bypass, valve replacement, interventions
- Oncology — cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Orthopaedics — joint replacement and spine surgery
- Neurology and neurosurgery
- Organ-transplant consultation and evaluation (subject to Indian law)
- Specialist second opinions and advanced diagnostics
It is a distinct visa type — do not apply on an e-Tourist Visa for treatment. If a hospital later needs to confirm your visa category, a tourist visa can complicate admission and billing.
Validity, Entries & the 60-Day Rule
This is where the medical visa differs most from the tourist visa:
- Triple entry: you may enter India up to three times on a single e-Medical Visa
- 60 days from arrival: validity is counted from your date of first arrival, not the date of issue
- Up to 3 times a year: you can obtain an e-Medical Visa three times in one calendar year — designed around treatments that need follow-up trips
Pro Tip:
If your treatment plan runs longer than 60 days, discuss it with your hospital's international patient desk before you travel. For extended stays they will advise on a regular Medical Visa from an Indian mission, or on the permitted registration process — plan this early, not from a hospital bed.
Documents You Need (and the One That Trips People Up)
The core documents are the same as any e-Visa, plus one that is unique to medical cases:
- Passport valid for at least six months from arrival, with two blank pages
- Recent photograph — white background, face clearly visible, to Government of India specification
- Passport bio-page scan — clear, all four corners visible
- Letter from the Indian hospital on its official letterhead — this is the document that most often causes rejections
The hospital letter should be on letterhead and clearly state that the hospital has agreed to treat you, ideally with the treatment type and expected dates. A generic email is not enough. Our team checks this letter before submission — for the exact mistakes to avoid, read our India medical visa rejection reasons checklist.
The e-Medical Attendant Visa: Bringing Family
No one should face treatment alone, and Indian visa policy recognises this. Up to two attendants — blood relatives such as a spouse, parent, or adult child — may accompany the patient. Each attendant applies for their own e-Medical Attendant Visa, which:
- Carries the same 60-day, triple-entry validity
- Is tied to the patient's treatment and travel
- Must be applied for separately, with each attendant's own passport and photo
Apply for the patient and the attendants together so the details and travel dates line up — mismatched arrival dates are a common, avoidable flag.
India e-Medical Visa Fees: Government Fee vs All-Inclusive
Most people search for the government fee, so here it is honestly, alongside what you would pay us:
- Government fee: around $25 for the e-Medical Visa for most nationalities — this varies by nationality and is paid to the Government of India
- Our all-inclusive price from $97: bundles the government fee with expert document review, hospital-letter checking, photo formatting, submission and live status tracking
For a full breakdown across every visa type, see how much an Indian e-Visa really costs.
Processing Time: How Early to Apply
Medical applications are frequently prioritised and are usually approved within 48 to 72 hours. But when someone's health is waiting, do not cut it fine:
- You can apply up to 120 days before travel — do so as soon as your hospital date is set
- Never book non-refundable flights or confirm treatment dates until your status shows Granted
- Check spam/junk folders — approval emails often land there
For a full timing breakdown, see our guide on how long an Indian e-Visa takes to process.
How to Apply for the India e-Medical Visa
- Step 1 — Complete the online application with the patient's passport and travel details
- Step 2 — Upload the passport bio page, photo, and the hospital letter
- Step 3 — Apply for up to two attendants separately, if family is travelling
- Step 4 — Our specialists verify every document to hospital and government standards before submission
- Step 5 — Receive your approved e-Medical Visa by email, typically within 48–72 hours
Important:
The e-Medical Visa is granted for treatment — carry a printed copy of your e-Visa and your hospital letter for immigration on arrival, and keep them together with the patient's medical documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an e-Tourist Visa for medical treatment instead?
No. Treatment should be undertaken on the e-Medical Visa (or a regular Medical Visa). Using a tourist visa for treatment can create problems with hospital admission, insurance, and billing, and is not the correct category for the purpose of your visit.
What if my treatment takes longer than 60 days?
The e-Medical Visa allows a 60-day stay per entry. For longer treatment, your hospital's international patient desk will advise on a regular Medical Visa from an Indian mission or on the required registration for extended stays. Arrange this before you travel where possible.
Do both my parents count as attendants?
Up to two attendants who are blood relatives may accompany the patient, each on their own e-Medical Attendant Visa. If more family members wish to travel, they would generally apply for an e-Tourist Visa instead.
Is the hospital letter always required?
For the e-Medical Visa you should always have a letter from the treating Indian hospital ready. Applications without a clear, letterheaded hospital letter are the most common reason medical cases are delayed or refused.
Travelling to India for Treatment?
We verify the hospital letter and every document before submission — patient and attendant visas handled together, most approvals within 48–72 hours.
Start My Medical Visa →Don't Risk a Rejection or a Ruined Trip
One small mistake — a name that doesn't match your passport, the wrong occupation, a non-compliant photo, or the wrong visa category — can get your India e-Visa rejected or frozen in review for weeks. Government fees are non-refundable, a rejection can flag your passport for future applications, and most travelers only find out after they've paid and their flight is days away.
Our visa experts check every detail before submission, catch the errors that cause rejections, and back it with 24/7 human support — so you board your flight with total peace of mind.
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About the Author
Falguni Patel
Former Indian Consular Officer, Toronto
"Former consular officer at the Indian mission in Toronto, Canada, with first-hand experience processing visa and travel-document applications. Now guides international travelers through the Indian e-Visa process."
View author profileFrequently Asked Questions
What is the India e-Medical Visa and who is it for?
The e-Medical Visa is for foreign nationals travelling to India to receive medical treatment at a recognised hospital or treatment centre — commonly for surgery, cardiac care, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, organ-transplant consultation, and specialist second opinions. The patient applies for the e-Medical Visa; up to two accompanying family members apply separately for the e-Medical Attendant Visa.
How long is the India e-Medical Visa valid for?
The e-Medical Visa is a triple-entry visa valid for 60 days from your date of first arrival in India. It can be obtained up to three times in a single calendar year, which is useful for treatments that require follow-up visits.
What documents do I need for an India e-Medical Visa?
You need a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages, a recent white-background passport photo, a scan of your passport bio page, and — the document unique to this visa — a letter from the Indian hospital where you will be treated, on the hospital's official letterhead. Some applicants are also asked for supporting medical records.
How much does the India e-Medical Visa cost?
The Government of India fee for the e-Medical Visa is around $25 for most nationalities (fees vary by nationality). Our all-inclusive price — which bundles the government fee with expert document review, photo formatting, hospital-letter checking, submission and status tracking — starts at $97.
How long does the e-Medical Visa take to process?
Medical applications are often prioritised and typically approved within 48 to 72 hours. For treatment that cannot wait, apply as early as possible (up to 120 days before travel) and never book non-refundable treatment or travel until your visa status shows 'Granted'.
Can family members travel with me on a medical visa?
Yes. Up to two attendants (blood relatives, such as a spouse, parent, or adult child) may accompany the patient. Each attendant needs their own e-Medical Attendant Visa, which carries the same 60-day triple-entry validity and is tied to the patient's treatment.
Official Sources
- Government of India e-Visa portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in
- Bureau of Immigration, India: boi.gov.in
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