India Visitor Visa reforms will replace the Tourist Visa with V-1 and V-2 categories, while reducing visa classifications and application form fields by up to 70%.
India plans to rename its Tourist Visa as a broader Visitor Visa, introduce V-1 and V-2 categories, and reduce visa application form fields by 65% to 70% as part of a wider visa-system overhaul targeted for implementation by the end of 2026.
India sets out a broader visa overhaul
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced on November 11, 2026, that it will reorganize visa categories for tourism, business, medical treatment and education. The reform, approved on August 27, will reduce the main visa categories from 13 to 9 and cut subcategories from 49 to 23.
The latest changes follow an earlier restructuring in October 2025, when India had already reduced its main visa categories from 22 to 13. For foreign visitors, the most visible change is the replacement of the current Tourist Visa with a more flexible Visitor Visa designed to cover mixed-purpose trips.
V-1 will cover short trips of up to 30 days
The new Visitor Visa will be split into two classes, V-1 and V-2. The V-1 category is intended for short stays, will be valid for 30 days and will allow multiple entries into India.
- Tourism and private visits
- Short business meetings
- Medical consultations and some short-term treatments
- Wellness retreats and brief yoga programs
- Short courses in Indian languages, music, art or traditional crafts
The change is meant to remove the need for separate visas when travellers combine tourism with limited business, medical, cultural or wellness activities during the same visit.
V-2 may be valid for one, five or ten years
The V-2 Visitor Visa is planned for travellers who need a longer-validity authorization. According to the ministry, it may be issued for one year, five years or ten years, depending on the applicable requirements. It will include the activities permitted under V-1 and will also cover mountaineering.
For mountaineering, India plans a specific six-month, multiple-entry authorization. The option of a ten-year Visitor Visa could be important for frequent visitors, although visa validity is separate from the maximum length of stay allowed in India. The government has not yet published all stay conditions for the different V-2 options.
Existing e-Visa labels already show e-T1 V and e-T2 V
India’s e-Visa system, available to nationals of 172 countries, already displays electronic tourist visas under e-Tourist Visa (e-T1 V) and e-Tourist Visa (e-T2 V) labels. The e-T1 V group includes 30-day, one-year and five-year electronic tourist visas, all allowing multiple entries. The one-year e-Tourist Visa is valid for 365 days from the date the Electronic Travel Authorization is granted, while the five-year version also runs from the ETA issue date.
For the one-year and five-year electronic tourist visas, India says total time in the country must not exceed 180 days per calendar year, subject to the relevant conditions. The e-T1 V code was already appearing on electronic travel authorizations in June 2026, when India changed the 30-day e-Tourist Visa from two entries to multiple entries.
The portal also lists e-Tourist Visa (e-T2 V) for mountaineering and trekking expeditions. That authorization is valid for six months from the ETA date and permits multiple entries, although the exact date of its introduction has not been established. Authorities have not yet explained how all current electronic visa labels will align with the new structure. The ten-year Visitor Visa option is also not currently offered through standard online e-Tourist Visa categories, which remain limited to 30 days, one year and five years for eligible applicants.
Medical, study and business visas are being consolidated
The reform also reorganizes other travel purposes. Medical travel will retain M-1 for conventional treatment and M-3 for treatment under India’s AYUSH healthcare systems. These visas, including electronic versions, will generally be issued for one year with multiple entries, while accompanying relatives or attendants may use M-2 and M-4 categories.
Student visas will be grouped into S-1 for school and university study and S-2 for doctoral students, researchers, visiting faculty, interns and some exchange programs. Students admitted through the Study in India portal may be eligible for an e-S1 student e-Visa valid for up to five years or for the duration of studies, whichever is shorter.
Business categories are also changing. B-1 will mainly apply to long-term business activity, while B-2 will cover temporary purposes such as conferences, selected artistic and sporting engagements, film productions and technical assignments. The ministry also plans an electronic visa arrangement for some foreign engineers, specialists and technical staff working on industrial projects in India.
Application forms to be shortened by up to 70%
The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed that application fields will be reduced by 65% to 70% across all 23 visa subcategories. The aim is to remove repeated information, shorten applications and simplify processing while retaining the data needed for assessment. Earlier local media reports had suggested a reduction of about 70%, possibly in 2027, but the government now says computer systems are being updated so visas can be issued under the new classification by the end of 2026. No exact launch date has been announced.
Current entry rules remain in force
For now, travellers must continue using existing procedures. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, among others, still need a visa before travelling to India and may use the electronic visa system if eligible. Since December 18, 2025, applications for the 30-day e-Tourist Visa can be filed up to 120 days before arrival, instead of the previous 30-day window. Since June 2026, that visa has allowed multiple entries.
Foreign travellers must also complete India’s e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival, regardless of visa status. Health-related requirements, including any Air Suvidha declaration, remain separate from visa applications. The reform promises more flexibility and less paperwork, but travellers and industry operators will need to wait for portal updates to see how the new categories work in practice.
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