When you decide to travel to India for medical treatment, the process involves far more than booking a flight. Before you can walk through the doors of a hospital in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore, you need the right visa and somewhere practical to stay while you receive care and recover.
The good news is that India has built a dedicated visa pathway specifically for international patients. The medical visa system is designed to make entry straightforward, and most major hospitals have built support services that take care of the practical details so that patients and families can focus on health.
At HOSPIDIO, we coordinate the journey from your first conversation with us to your safe return home. One of the first things we do is help every patient understand the visa process and accommodation landscape before they book anything. This guide brings that same information together in one place.
Types of Medical Visas Available
India offers three main visa pathways for international patients and the family members or caregivers traveling with them. The table below gives a quick overview before we explain each in detail.
| Type de visa | Validité | Entrées | Faite une demandeItinéraire | Idéal pour |
| Visa e-médical | 60 days from day of entry in India | Tripler | Portail en ligne | Most patients, 160+ countries eligible |
| Visa d'agent médical | Same as patient | Tripler | Portail en ligne | Up to 2 caregivers / family members |
| Visa médical régulier | 3 à 12 mois et plus | Variable | Embassy / Consulate | Long-term stay or embassy-only countries |
The e-Medical Visa
| eMedical Visa at a Glance | |
| Idéal pour | Patients from 160+ eligible countries needing short- to medium-term treatment |
| Validité | 60 days from the date of first entry into India |
| Entrées | Triple entry permitted |
| Faite une demande | Fully online via indianvisaonline.gov.in |
| Appliquer au moins | 4 days before arrival; application window opens 120 days in advance |
| Préposés | Up to 2 family members or caregivers may apply for the co-linked Attendant Visa |
The e-Medical Visa is the most commonly used route for international patients traveling to India. It is available to citizens of more than 160 countries and the entire application process takes place online, with no need to visit an embassy or consulate.
Once granted, the visa is valid for 60 days from the date of your first entry into India and allows you to re-enter the country up to three times. This triple-entry feature is useful if your treatment plan requires you to travel home briefly during a longer programme and then return.
Up to two accompanying family members or caregivers can apply for an e-Medical Attendant Visa at the same time. The attendant visa is co-terminus with the patient's visa, meaning both expire on the same date.
Important: Both you and any attendants are required to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival. Your HOSPIDIO coordinator will guide you through this if it applies to your case.
The Medical Attendant Visa
| Medical Attendat Visa at a Glance | |
| Idéal pour | Family members or caregivers accompanying a Medical Visa holder |
| Validité | Co-terminus with the patient's Medical Visa |
| Maximum | Two attendants permitted per patient |
| Preuve requise | Relationship to the patient (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or equivalent) |
This visa is designed specifically for the people traveling alongside a patient. It is not a standalone category: it is always linked to the patient's Medical Visa, and the attendant cannot travel to India on this visa independently. The visa expires when the patient's visa expires.
A maximum of two attendants are permitted per patient. Each must be a genuine caregiver or family member and will need to show documentation confirming their relationship to the patient. The most commonly used documents are a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or a family registration document issued by a government authority.
The Regular Medical Visa (Paper Sticker)
| Regular Medical Visa at a Glance | |
| Idéal pour | Patients requiring long-term treatment beyond 60 days, or those from non-e-Visa eligible countries |
| Faite une demande | In person at an Indian embassy or consulate in your country |
| En cours | 3 to 7 working days (some embassies may take 2 to 4 weeks) |
| Validité | Determined case by case, often 3 to 12 months |
| Biométrie | Required at the time of your appointment |
The regular medical visa, often called the paper sticker visa, is issued by Indian embassies and consulates worldwide. Unlike the e-Medical Visa, it requires an in-person appointment at the relevant mission in your country, where physical documents are submitted and biometrics are collected.
This route is appropriate when your treatment timeline extends well beyond 60 days, when your country is not on the e-Medical Visa eligible list, or when immigration authorities have requested an in-person application for other reasons. Processing typically takes 3 to 7 working days, though some embassies can take longer during busy periods. We recommend not purchasing flights until the visa is confirmed.
Documents Required for Indian Medical Visa
The document checklist differs slightly depending on which visa type you are applying for. Below is a clear breakdown for each category.
For the Medical Visa
You will need to prepare and upload the following:
- Your passport, valid for at least six months beyond your planned arrival date in India, with a minimum of two blank pages available for stamps.
- A scanned copy of the passport bio-data page.
- A recent color photograph, 5 cm x 5 cm, white background, taken within the past three months.
- A hospital invitation letter issued on the official letterhead of a recognized Indian hospital (NABH or JCI accredited). The letter must include your full name, nationality, passport number, planned treatment details, and tentative admission date. We obtain this letter on your behalf once your treatment plan is confirmed.
- A medical certificate or referral letter from your treating physician at home, clearly describing your diagnosis and explaining why you require treatment in India (needed in case of visa processing through embassy).
- Financial proof such as recent bank statements, confirming that you can cover treatment costs, accommodation, and return travel (needed in case of visa processing through embassy).
- A return ticket or proof of an onward journey (needed in case of visa processing through embassy).
For the Medical Attendant Visa
An attendant applying for the e-Medical Attendant Visa will need the same core documents listed above for themselves (passport, photograph, and financial proof), plus the following:
- A copy of the patient's e-Medical Visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or regular visa.
- A copy of the patient's passport bio-data page.
- Proof of relationship to the patient: a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or a family registration document (needed under specific circumstances).
Any document not originally in English must be translated into English and notarized before submission. This applies to medical certificates, family documents, and bank statements. Missing or untranslated documents are one of the most common causes of delay or rejection. We check your document set in advance so you are not caught by preventable gaps.
Medical Visa Processing Time and Fees
For e-Medical Visas, the standard processing time is 3 to 5 business days. If your travel date is sooner, expedited options are available: urgent processing takes approximately 24 hours, and super-urgent processing takes around 5 business hours. Both faster options attract additional service fees on top of the government charge.
For embassy-based regular medical visas, processing typically takes 3 to 7 working days, though some missions in certain countries may take 2 to 4 weeks during busy periods. Please build extra lead time into your planning and do not book flights until the visa is in hand.
The government fee for an e-Medical Visa is approximately USD 80 for most nationalities, though the exact figure varies by country based on bilateral agreements between India and your home government. A bank transaction charge of 2.5% is applied on top of the stated fee at payment. All visa processing fees are non-refundable, regardless of whether the application is approved or refused.
For the regular medical visa, fees are set by the individual embassy and vary by nationality. Your HOSPIDIO coordinator will advise on the exact amount applicable in your country.
We recommend applying at least 3 to 4 weeks before your planned travel date. This gives adequate time to correct any document issues, respond to embassy queries, and avoid unnecessary urgency fees.
Medical Visa Extension Process
If your treatment requires more time than your original visa allows, an extension is possible through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which operates under India's Ministry of Home Affairs.Extensions for the e-Medical Visa can be granted on a case-by-case basis and can take total permitted stay up to six months. This matters most for patients undergoing long-term treatments such as organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, multi-cycle cancer therapy, or extended cardiac rehabilitation.
The extension process is handled entirely through the official e-FRRO portal at frro.gov.in. You do not need to visit an office in most cases; the application, document submission, and decision are all managed online. The documents you will need to upload are:
- Your current passport.
- A hospital certificate confirming your ongoing treatment and your current place of stay in India.
- A detailed letter from your treating doctor explaining that continued stay is medically necessary and stating the expected additional duration.
- Financial proof covering the extended period.
- Address proof for your current residence in India.
You must apply for the extension before your current visa expires. Overstaying without an approved extension is an immigration violation, and departing India in that situation requires a separate Exit Visa Permit from the FRRO, which involves additional process and delay.
FRRO reporting within 14 days of arrival is mandatory. Patients from Pakistan and Bangladesh have an additional requirement to register with the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Your hospital's international patient team and your HOSPIDIO coordinator will guide you through whichever of these applies.
Accommodation Support Services
Choosing where to stay during a medical trip is a decision that deserves care. You may be recovering from a major procedure, managing fatigue from treatment cycles, or supporting a family member through a long hospital admission. Proximity to the hospital, dietary suitability, quiet, and flexibility all matter far more than they would on an ordinary trip.India offers a wide range of accommodation options for international patients, from hospital-managed guest houses to serviced apartments and hotels at every price point. The right choice depends on the length of stay, the number of people traveling, and the budget.
Hospital Guest Houses and On-Campus Stays
Many of India's leading hospital groups operate dedicated guest houses either within the hospital campus or within close walking distance. These facilities are built specifically for patients and their accompanying family members and offer a level of convenience that a standard hotel cannot match.
Medanta in Gurugram, for example, arranges affordable and comfortable guest house accommodation for international patients and their companions as a standard part of their international patient services. Fortis hospitals, across Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bangalore, connect patients with nearby guest houses and service apartments through their international concierge desk, and some locations offer complimentary two-way airport transfers as part of the international patient welcome.
On-campus or near-campus accommodation means that routine trips for dressing changes, blood sample collections, and outpatient consultations do not require transportation. For patients recovering from surgery or those on frequent follow-up schedules, this reduces fatigue and removes a daily logistical burden.
Appartements avec services pour séjours plus longs
For treatments lasting several weeks or months, a serviced apartment is usually the most practical and cost-effective solution. These provide more space than a hotel room, a kitchen or kitchenette for preparing meals that match dietary requirements or cultural food preferences, laundry facilities, and a more livable arrangement for a family that may include a caregiver and children staying together for an extended period.
Serviced apartment providers near India's major hospital clusters in Gurugram, Chennai, Delhi, and Bangalore have built their offerings specifically around medical visitors. Many have hosted patients from over a hundred countries and understand the dietary, cultural, and communication needs that come with an international patient population.
Hotels Near Treatment Centres
For shorter stays or for attendants who prefer a more independent arrangement, hotels ranging from budget options to five-star properties are available near every major hospital cluster in India. Most leading hospital groups, including Apollo, Fortis, Max, and Medanta, can assist in recommending or booking a hotel suited to your budget through their international patient desk.
We coordinate accommodation options for every patient we work with, taking into account treatment schedule, number of travelers, dietary needs, and distance from the hospital. Where the hospital itself has a preferred arrangement, we work within it. Where a better or more affordable alternative exists, we find it.
Services de soutien pour les patients internationaux
India's leading hospital groups have invested significantly in their international patient infrastructure. At hospitals such as Apollo, Fortis, Max, Medanta, and Manipal, a dedicated relationship manager or care coordinator is typically assigned to each international patient and serves as a single point of contact throughout the stay.The range of support services available at these hospitals includes:
- Language interpretation, available in Arabic, French, Swahili, Russian, Bahasa, and several other languages commonly spoken by medical tourists to India.
- Preparation and issue of hospital invitation letters in the format required by Indian embassies for visa processing.
- Assistance with FRRO registration where the stay triggers that requirement.
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure, complimentary at several hospital groups.
- Guidance on SIM card registration, so that patients can communicate with family at home from the day of arrival.
- Currency exchange guidance.
- Dietary meal arrangements that reflect religious, cultural, or medical dietary requirements.
- Coordination of local transfers between accommodation and the hospital for each appointment.
- Facilitation of sample collection from accommodation where the patient's condition makes travel to the hospital for routine tests difficult.
- Arrangement of supervised sightseeing during recovery periods, where the treating doctor gives clearance.
At HOSPIDIO, we work directly with the international patient departments at our partner hospitals and ensure these services are activated for every patient we refer. You will not need to request them individually; your coordinator introduces you to the relationship manager at the hospital and confirms which services are available under your treatment package.
Key Benefits for International Patients Choosing India
India's medical visa and support infrastructure has developed to reflect the scale and maturity of its medical tourism sector. More than two million international patients travel to India for treatment each year, and the systems in place have been shaped by that volume of experience.
- A dedicated visa category built for medical travelers, with a streamlined online process for most nationalities.
- NABH and JCI accredited hospitals that meet rigorous national and international quality standards, with internationally trained specialist teams.
- Treatment costs 50 to 80 per cent lower than equivalent procedures in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and most of Western Europe, without a comparable reduction in clinical quality or outcomes for the conditions India's leading hospitals specialise in.
- Short waiting times: in India's private hospital network, elective and urgent procedures are typically available within days rather than the months patients in many countries wait at home.
- English-speaking medical and administrative teams across all major hospitals, reducing the communication barrier that is a common concern for first-time medical travelers.
- Full-service support covering visa invitation letters, accommodation, airport logistics, language support, and post-treatment telemedicine follow-up, all coordinated through a single point of contact.
How to Get Started with HOSPIDIO
When a patient contacts us, the first step is always a no-obligation conversation with one of our case coordinators. We ask about your condition, the medical reports and scans you have available, and your approximate timeline for travel.
From there, we send your documents to the appropriate specialist at one of our partner hospitals and obtain a treatment plan and cost estimate. Once you are satisfied with the plan, we request the hospital invitation letter, which is the document that triggers the visa application.
We guide you or your family through completing the visa application, advise on every item in the document checklist, and confirm that everything is correctly prepared before submission. For patients using the regular embassy route, we advise on the appointment booking and document submission process in their country.
Once the visa is confirmed, we coordinate your airport transfer, introduce you to your relationship manager at the hospital, and confirm your accommodation. Your HOSPIDIO coordinator remains available by WhatsApp, phone, or email throughout the treatment and recovery period.
When you are ready to return home, we ensure that discharge documentation and medical summaries are ready for you, and we arrange any follow-up telemedicine consultations your specialist recommends so that your care continues after you leave India.
We have coordinated treatment journeys for patients from Canada, Nigeria, Kenya, the Netherlands, Fiji, Caribbean nations, and dozens of other countries. We know the questions to ask and the details that save time and stress at each stage of the process.
Ready to begin? Reach out to us at hospidio.com and one of our coordinators will respond within 24 hours with an initial assessment and next steps.
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FAQ
No. The hospital invitation letter is a mandatory document for all Indian medical visa categories. The letter must be issued by a recognized, registered Indian hospital on its official letterhead and must include your name, passport number, nationality, and details of the planned treatment and tentative admission date. Without this letter, your application cannot be processed. We obtain this letter on your behalf once a treatment plan is agreed.
A maximum of two attendants per patient are permitted under the Medical Attendant Visa. Each must apply separately for their own visa and must be able to show proof of their relationship to you, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate.
You can apply for a visa extension through the e-FRRO portal before your visa expires. Extensions are granted on medical grounds on a case-by-case basis and can extend total permitted stay up to six months. You will need a letter from your treating doctor confirming that ongoing treatment is medically necessary and an estimate of the additional time required. We assist with this process.
Yes. The e-Medical Visa permits holders to combine medical treatment with limited tourism activities within India during their stay. However, the primary purpose of the visa must remain medical treatment. If your treating doctor confirms you are well enough for short excursions during recovery, your HOSPIDIO coordinator and the hospital can arrange supervised local visits.
Registration with the FRRO is mandatory only if your total stay in India exceeds 180 days. If your treatment is completed within that period, no separate registration is required. If registration is triggered, your hospital's international patient team and your HOSPIDIO coordinator will guide you through the process. Patients from Pakistan and Bangladesh have an additional requirement to register with the local police station within 24 hours of arrival, regardless of the length of stay.
No. Indian government visa processing fees are non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application or any subsequent change in your travel plans. This applies to both e-Visas and embassy-issued regular medical visas. We encourage patients to confirm their treatment plan and hospital invitation letter before paying the visa fee, to avoid fees lost to preventable cancellations.
This is not advisable. Using a tourist visa for the primary purpose of receiving medical treatment is a misuse of the visa category and can create complications at Indian immigration, including a risk of denial of entry. India's medical visa has been created specifically for this purpose and provides the correct legal basis for your stay. The medical visa also gives you access to hospital invitation letter support, FRRO guidance, and the full range of hospital international patient services, none of which apply to tourist visa holders.
Shruti Verma est titulaire d'un master en biotechnologie et possède une expérience en rédaction médicale et en création de contenu scientifique. Elle est spécialisée dans la vulgarisation d'informations biomédicales et de santé complexes afin de les rendre claires, précises et accessibles à un large public. Lorsqu'elle ne rédige pas de contenu, elle crée probablement des graphismes.
Dr. Basim Parvez est physiothérapeute agréé et consultant principal auprès des patients chez HOSPIDIO. Titulaire d'un MBA en gestion de la santé, il possède une vaste expérience clinique et une approche empreinte de compassion, et accompagne les patients tout au long de leurs traitements médicaux. Dr. Basim met également à profit son talent d'écriture pour simplifier des informations complexes en matière de santé, permettant ainsi aux patients de prendre des décisions éclairées et favorisant la clarté et la confiance dans leur parcours médical.