Patient Guide
India Medical Visa Guide for International Patients
How the Indian medical visa works, the documents most patients need, and country-specific guides with exact fees, forms, and where to apply.
Find your country's guide
The application process, fees and forms for an Indian medical visa depend on which country you’re applying from. Start with your country’s guide below for exact steps:
The visa is free of charge — current IVAC status, documents, fees and where to apply.
Read the Bangladesh guide →
How the Indian medical visa works
Whichever country you’re applying from, the same basic logic applies:
- You need a Medical Visa, not a tourist visa. A tourist visa does not permit hospital admission or ongoing treatment in India.
- There are usually two routes: an e-Medical Visa applied for online at indianvisaonline.gov.in (where your country is eligible), or a regular paper Medical Visa submitted in person at your nearest Indian High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate.
- A genuine hospital invitation letter is required either way — it’s the one document neither route lets you skip, and the single most common reason applications get delayed.
- Up to two attendants can usually travel with a patient on a linked Medical Attendant Visa.
Documents most patients need
Exact requirements vary by country and mission — always check your country’s guide above or your nearest Indian mission’s own page — but most applications ask for:
- Original passport, valid at least 6 months, with 2 or more blank pages
- Passport-style photographs on a plain light background
- Signed visa application form (paper route) or completed online form (e-Visa route)
- Referral letter from a treating hospital or doctor in your home country
- Copies of relevant medical records and reports
- Hospital invitation letter from the Indian hospital, on its letterhead
- Proof of funds for treatment and stay
- Return flight booking
- Any vaccination certificates your country's mission requires
How Geo Healthcare helps
We coordinate directly with your hospital in India to get the invitation letter right the first time, then hand you a clean, ready-to-submit document checklist for your specific country and route.
Frequently asked questions
You need a Medical Visa. A tourist visa does not permit hospital admission or ongoing treatment in India, and using one for medical care can cause problems at immigration or at the hospital.
Many countries are eligible for the e-Medical Visa, applied for entirely online at India's official e-Visa portal. Others need to apply in person at their nearest Indian High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate. Check your country's guide above for which route applies to you.
Yes — it's a letter from the Indian hospital treating you, confirming your admission, and it's required for both the e-Visa and paper routes. It's also the most common reason applications get delayed, so getting it right matters.
Yes, most countries allow up to two attendants per patient on a linked Medical Attendant Visa.
This page explains the Indian government’s own visa process and is not immigration or legal advice — visa rules, fees and document requirements change and vary by country. Always confirm current requirements with your nearest Indian mission.
Written by the Geo Healthcare Consultancy patient support team · Last reviewed 11 September 2026