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Coming to India for treatment: medical visas, FRRO rules and choosing a hospital

By Faz · Updated 2 Nov 2026 · Not reviewed by a doctor · General information, not medical advice

On this page
  1. The two routes: e-Medical visa or a regular medical visa
  2. Applying for an e-Medical visa
  3. Attendants
  4. After you arrive: FRRO registration
  5. Choosing a hospital
  6. Checking a doctor
  7. Your records
  8. Follow-up at home
  9. Common questions
  10. Sources

Quick answer. Most overseas patients apply online for an e-Medical visa with a hospital letter, at least 4 days before arrival. Up to two attendants can apply. The official portal now shows one year with multiple entries, so older pages may mislead. If your visa exceeds 180 days, register with the FRRO within 14 days. Check accreditation and doctors first.

Coming to another country for treatment is a big step, and the paperwork can feel like one more worry. This guide covers the visas for patients and attendants, what to do after you land, how to check a hospital and doctor, and how to plan your care back home. It is general information and not immigration or medical advice. Your own visa document and the Indian mission in your country have the final word.

The two routes: e-Medical visa or a regular medical visa

e-Medical / e-Medical AttendantRegular Medical (M) / Medical Attendant visa
Where to applyOnline, on the e-Visa portalIndian Visa Online form, then submit to the Indian mission
DurationOne year (365 days) from the date of arrival, as the portal shows itGenerally up to 1 year or the period of treatment, whichever is less
EntriesMultipleSingle or multiple up to 6 months, multiple beyond that
Extending or convertingThe e-Visa cannot be extended or convertedAsk the FRRO if your treatment runs on
Who can use itNationals of listed countries onlyDecided by the mission

A note on older information. Many pages, including some Indian mission FAQs, still say an e-Medical visa lasts 60 days with three entries. The official e-Visa portal showed one year and multiple entries when we checked on 2 November 2026. Please read the validity printed on your own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and ask the mission if anything is unclear.

Applying for an e-Medical visa

Check that your country is on the eligible list, then get these ready:

  • a passport with at least six months’ validity when you apply
  • a recent front-facing photograph with a white background (JPEG, 10 KB to 1 MB, equal height and width)
  • a scan of your passport’s photo page (PDF, 10 KB to 300 KB)
  • a letter on the hospital’s letterhead with the date or tentative date of admission (same PDF limits)
  • a return or onward ticket, and enough money for your stay

Then follow these steps:

  1. Apply on the official e-Visa portal at least 4 days before arrival. You can choose an arrival date up to 120 days ahead.
  2. Pay the fee online. It varies by country, a 3% bank charge is added, and it cannot be refunded even if the visa is refused.
  3. Wait for the ETA by email, and confirm its status shows GRANTED before you fly.
  4. Print the ETA and carry it. Your biometrics are taken at immigration.
  5. Complete the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before arrival, on the Bureau of Immigration site, the Indian Visa Online site or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app.
  6. Enter through an authorised immigration checkpost, listed on the portal.

The government says it charges no emergency or express fee, so be careful with any website offering one. Only use the official portal. Travellers from yellow fever affected countries must carry a vaccination card or may face quarantine.

Who cannot use the e-Visa

The portal says the e-Visa is not available to diplomatic or official passport holders, people with a defence, military, police or security background, or holders of Pakistani passports or those of Pakistani origin, who should apply through a mission. Each person needs their own passport.

AYUSH treatment

Treatment under Indian systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda, is also covered by the e-Medical category, with the same kind of hospital letter. The government introduced a dedicated AYUSH visa on 27 July 2023. Ask the mission which suits you.

Attendants

After you arrive: FRRO registration

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) handles registration. The Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025 replaced older rules, so some guidance online is out of date. Here is what the official sources say:

Your situationWhat applies
Medical or Medical Attendant visa valid for more than 180 daysRegister within 14 days of arrival, says the Bureau of Immigration.
Visa valid for 180 days or less, and you wish to stay beyond 180 daysRegister any time before the 180 days expire. This changed on 1 June 2026. The old grace period of 14 days after the 180 days has gone.
Pakistani nationals on medical visasRegister within 24 hours of arrival. Separate restrictions may apply, so check with the mission.

An e-Medical visa with one year’s validity would fall in the first row, so ask your hospital’s international desk or the FRRO to confirm soon after you land. You apply through the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app or indianfrro.gov.in. Rules can also set different timelines for certain nationalities.

What the hospital must do

Under rule 18, the hospital records your details on arrival and departure and must report them online. It must send a report (Form III, formerly Form C) within 24 hours of your arrival. It should ask for your passport and visa details, so please carry them.

Changing plans

  • Changing hospital. This is allowed case by case, with documents justifying the change, where the hospital is endorsed on your visa.
  • Falling ill on a tourist or other visa. A minor illness needing only out-patient care can be treated on your existing visa. If treatment goes beyond what your visa allows, you may need to apply for conversion to a medical visa. Pakistani nationals must convert for any in-patient care.
  • Treatment running past your visa. Contact the FRRO through the hospital well before expiry. Do not wait until the last week.

Choosing a hospital

The Bureau of Immigration refers to established, recognised or specialised hospitals, and treatment centres under Indian systems of medicine accredited by the Government of India. Accreditation is a useful outside check:

  • NABH. Search the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals list by name, state and specialty. It covers accreditation, certification and empanelment, which are different levels, so read which one applies. NABH itself notes that some data may be incomplete during a website move, so ask the hospital for its certificate number too.
  • JCI. Joint Commission International publishes its own list of accredited organisations. Check the hospital appears there and the entry is current.

Accreditation looks at systems and processes. It does not tell you how a certain doctor performs or whether a treatment is right for you. Questions to send the hospital before you book:

  • Which doctor would treat me, and what is their registration number and council?
  • Is this treatment suitable for me, based on my reports? What are the alternatives?
  • What is the written estimate, what does it include, and what could change it?
  • How long will I need to stay in India after discharge?
  • Who is my contact for visa letters and FRRO help?
  • What happens if there is a complication after I go home?

Some patients use a facilitator. NABH runs a Medical Value Travel Facilitator empanelment programme, so you can ask whether yours is listed, and how they are paid. You can also contact hospitals directly. Our overseas patients page and hospital listings may help you begin.

Checking a doctor

Every doctor in India should have a registration number from a medical council. You can check it yourself from abroad. Our guide on how to check a doctor registration in India takes you through the steps, and how we verify explains what our own checks cover.

Your records

Your records are your safety net at home. National conduct regulations say that doctors must keep in-patient records for 3 years, and must issue records requested by a patient or authorised attendant within 72 hours. Ask before discharge. Bring copies of your home reports in English too.

Ask for these, on paper and as digital files:

  • discharge summary with diagnosis and treatment given
  • operation notes, and details of any implant, including make and serial number
  • lab results, scans and images, not only the reports
  • a list of medicines with generic names, doses and how long to take them
  • the follow-up schedule, and what to watch out for
  • itemised bills and receipts, for any insurer or employer at home

Follow-up at home

Plan this before you travel. Recovery often continues long after the flight home.

  1. Find a doctor at home who will take over your care, and tell them your plan before you leave.
  2. Ask your Indian doctor how soon you can fly, and whether any medical clearance is needed. Check with your airline too.
  3. Ask which symptoms need urgent care, and write them down.
  4. Check that your medicines are available at home, and get a letter if you are carrying a supply.
  5. Ask how to reach the treating team after you return, and whether video follow-up is offered.

If you feel unwell after returning, seek local care first. Then share your records with the Indian team.

Common questions

How long does an e-Medical visa last?

The official portal shows one year from arrival with multiple entries. Older pages say 60 days. Go by your own ETA.

Can I bring my spouse and my child with me?

Up to two attendants can get e-Medical Attendant visas against one patient. Each needs their own passport.

Do I need to register with the FRRO?

The Bureau of Immigration says yes for medical visas valid for more than 180 days, within 14 days of arrival. Please confirm with the hospital’s international desk.

Can I extend my e-Medical visa?

The portal says e-Visas are non-extendable. If your doctor says you need longer, contact the FRRO early.

Sources