India's e-Medical visa in 2026: who can apply online, and who can't

If you’re coming to India for planned treatment, you need a medical visa, not a tourist one. For most passports that means the e-Medical visa, which you apply for online. For a handful of countries it means a regular medical visa from an Indian embassy or high commission.

Which route you take depends on your passport, not where you live. A Kenyan citizen living in Dubai, for example, follows the rules for Kenyan passports.

Who can apply for the e-Medical visa online

India’s official e-Visa site lists 175 countries and territories whose passport holders can apply online (as of October 2026). Among the countries our patients come from, that includes:

• North America, Europe and Australia: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand
• Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mauritius and Cameroon
• The Gulf: UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain
• Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan

Who needs a regular medical visa instead

Some countries aren’t on the e-Visa list at the moment. Among them:

• Nigeria: apply through the High Commission of India in Abuja or its visa application centre
• Ethiopia: apply through the Embassy of India in Addis Ababa
• DR Congo: apply through the Embassy of India in Kinshasa
• Saudi Arabia: apply through the Embassy of India in Riyadh or the Consulate General in Jeddah, or their visa application centres

The documents are similar. The difference is time: a regular visa usually takes longer than an e-Visa, so start as soon as you have the hospital’s letter.

Lists change. Check the current list on the official site before you apply, and ask us if you’re unsure which route applies to your passport.

What you need for an e-Medical visa

According to the official site, you’ll need:

1. A scan of your passport’s photo page. The passport should be valid for at least six months when you apply.
2. A recent photo in the format the site asks for.
3. A letter from the hospital in India, on its letterhead, giving the date (or likely date) you’ve been asked to come for treatment.

The hospital letter is the key document. You get it once you’ve chosen a hospital. If you use us, we request it for you as soon as you’ve accepted a quote.

When to apply

You can apply up to 120 days before you arrive and no later than 4 days before. In practice, most patients apply three to four weeks before travelling. That leaves time to fix anything that’s rejected, without rushing.

Book a flexible or refundable flight. Nobody, including us or the hospital, can guarantee a visa decision. That’s for the Government of India alone.

Bringing family with you

Up to two people can come with you on e-Medical attendant visas. They’re linked to your e-Medical visa, so apply for yours first, then theirs. For major surgery, such as a joint replacement or heart surgery, we strongly suggest bringing one person.

If you’re on the regular-visa route, family members apply for medical attendant visas at the same time as you.

How long the visa lasts

The official FAQs describe the e-Medical visa as allowing multiple entries within its validity period. That matters if you need to come back, for example for a second stage of dental work. Check the exact validity and number of entries on your visa when it’s granted.

When you land

Foreign nationals staying in India have to be registered with the authorities (Form C) within 24 hours by the place they stay. Hotels and registered serviced apartments do this for you. If you use us, we make sure it’s done.

A quick checklist

• Is my passport on the e-Visa list? If not, find the Indian mission that handles medical visas where I live.
• Is my passport valid for six more months?
• Have I chosen a hospital and received its letter?
• Have I applied between 120 and 4 days before travel?
• Have my companions applied for attendant visas?
• Is my flight flexible?

Our visa and travel guide covers arrival, Form C and where to stay. If you’re travelling from Africa, the Gulf or Central Asia, our pages for Africa, the Gulf and Central Asia list the route for each country.