A Complete Guide on Medical Visa for Treatment in India

medical visa in indiamedical visa in india

In case, you are ailing from a medical condition and would like to get treated in India, the Indian government offers medical visa in India to citizens of foreign countries. Medical treatment in India is highly sought after because of top notch doctors and nurses, world class facilities and much lower costs of treatment.

Medical visa is granted for foreign nationals who have to stay for extended periods for treatment. There is a visa-on-arrival system for tourists from few selected countries, set up by the government of India with which they can stay in India for extended periods like 6 months, 1 year or more.

Medical Attendant visas are issued for only 2 blood relatives to accompany the patient for treatment.  Validity of such visas is the same as medical visa of patient. The preliminary duration of medical visa is up to one year or duration of treatment, whichever is less. This visa permits maximum of 3 entries during one year.

Requirements of Indian Medical Visa

  • Persons travelling from select countries need to have certificate for yellow fever vaccinations. Patients from Somalia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Israel, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Kenya must carry OPV (Oral Polio Vaccination) certificate taken 6 months before travelling to India. This is obligatory for both children and adults.
  • Every medical document is checked by Indian consulates located abroad to check whether requests for medical visas are authentic or not.
  • One must provide satisfactory details to Indian consulates that they have got initial medical advice from country of origin/ residence as well as recommendation to go abroad for specialized treatment.
  • Medical visa to India is granted only for treatment in recognized and reputed medical centers. Though visa is granted for many conditions, most commonly they are granted for major ones like neurosurgery, radio therapy, renal disorders, heart treatments, organ transplants, plastic surgery, gene therapy, congenital disorders and ophthalmic disorders.

Registration for Medical Visa

Foreign nationals with ‘M Visa’ are required to register themselves with concerned FRO’s/ FRRO’s within 14 days after arrival in India.

The patient’s family members or other attendants accompanying him to India will be provided with miscellaneous visas equivalent to ‘M’ visa of patient. Such visas are granted to spouse/ children or blood relations of the patient. In one go, only 2 persons are granted this type of visa and this visa is called as ‘MX’ visa. They must also register within 14 days of arrival in India.

Benefits of Medical Visa

  • The ‘M’ visa offers temporary immigration service and does not lead to settlement in India.
  • Medical visa in India provides entry only for the specific purpose of getting medical treatment.
  • Medical visa is granted for a period of 1 year as opposed to India visit visa granted only for 6 months. The duration of M visa depends on the time required to undergo the specific medical treatment.
  • The government of India allows only a period of 12 months but this can be extended for another 12 months. This extension is granted on basis of recommendation from a suitable treatment centre or by offering a medical certificate.

Extension and Validity of Medical Visas

Medical visa to India is given either for duration of treatment or a year whichever is lesser. This visa can be extended for 1 more year if granted by state governments or FRRO’s or by providing a medical certificate from a recognized Indian hospital. For further stay in India for treatment, validation can be given by Ministry of Home Affairs on the basis of medical certificates. With this kind of visa, no more than 3 entries to India in a year are permitted. In case of emergencies, FRRO’s/ State governments have the capacity to permit an extra entry.

Registration for Pakistanis and Bangladeshis

Though medical visas can be granted to most countries, nationals from Pakistan and Bangladesh are covered by Para 118 and Para 106, in the Visa manual. Citizens of both countries have to confirm the dates of their arrival and departure, as per present policies of their countries.

Process of Getting Medical Visas-

  • Firstly, patients have to fill the visa application
  • Fill up all details, ensure all information is correct and take out a printed copy of the application.
  • Gather all required documents.
  • Visit nearest Indian embassy in your country. Preferably, fix an appointment with the embassy officials.
  • Submit your application along with required documents and wait for a few weeks.
  • Once visa is approved, make plans for your travel.
  • On arrival in India, your visas will be stamped at the airport and is valid for an extra one year.

Documents Required For Visa-

  • Passport with at least 6 months validity.
  • Recent passport size photos.
  • Copy of online visa application
  • Photocopy of passport
  • Proof of residential address
  • Passport copies of attendants
  • Recommendation from doctor in home country to seek advanced medical care in India
  • Proof of relationship with attendants
  • Medical reports from medical institution/ doctor.

Indian medical visa is a good choice because:

  • Wide choice of doctors
  • No waiting line for treatment
  • World class treatment
  • One year or more of treatment
  • Fraction of cost of treatment
  • Permission for 2 blood relations to accompany patients as attendants.

These are some of the aspects about getting a medical visa to India.

Tarun Batra: