Govt.of India rationalises Visa Regime; Main Categories reduced from 13 to 09 and Sub Categories from 49 to 23, Tourist Visa renamed as Visitor Visa.
The Government of India has simplified its visa regime aiming at making it easier for foreign nationals visiting India. The revised framework is expected to be implemented by the end of 2026.
The Key Changes include:
- Visa categories reduced from 13 to 9.
- Sub-categories reduced from 49 to 23.
- Tourist Visa is now called Visitor Visa.
- New V-1 and V-2 Visitor Visa categories.
- Expanded permitted activities, including wellness retreats, medical consultations and short-term courses.
On 27th August, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt.of India, reduced the number of main visa categories from 13 to 9 and the number of sub-categories from 49 to 23. This follows the earlier rationalisation undertaken in October, 2025, when the main visa categories were reduced from 22 to 13 and sub-categories from 63 to 49.
Currently, e-visa is processed by electronic travel authorisation under 13 sub categories. The e-visa facility is currently available to the nationals of 172 countries.
Let's briefly look at the details below.
Visitor Visa
Visitor Visa, formerly called as Tourist Visa, provides greater flexibility for short and long stays. Visitor Visa is for purposes such as Tourism, short-term activities including business meetings, medical consultations and wellness retreats, transit, and mountaineering.
The erstwhile Tourist Visa has been renamed as Visitor Visa, reflecting a broader range of permitted purposes beyond conventional tourism.
The Visitor Visa category has been organised into two sub-categories, V-1 and V-2, so that applicants may select a visa suited to the nature and duration of their proposed visit.
V-1 Visa
V-1 Visa: 30 day multiple-entry visa : In addition to eligible visitor activities such as tourism and cultural experiences, it covers other short-term activities such as business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats, short-duration medical treatment and short-term courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft. It is granted for 30 days with multiple entries.
By bringing a wider range of short visits under a clearly identified category, the new arrangement makes visa selection simpler for travellers who may combine leisure with business meetings, medical consultations, wellness retreats or cultural learning, short duration yoga programme.
V-2 Visa
V-2 Visa: 1 year / 5 year / 10 year-validity, as specified : Intended for longer-duration visits, with validity of 1, 5 or 10 years, as specified. It covers the activities permissible under V-1 and mountaineering. For mountaineering, a visa of six months, with multiple entries, will be granted.
The longer-duration V-2 option provides continuity and convenience for eligible repeat visitors, while the specific mountaineering provision addresses the distinct needs of such travel.
Other Visas
Apart from the Visitor Visa for the tourists and visitors as described above, there are other kinds of Visa categories for international travellers to India, such as, the Medical Visa, Student Visa, Business Visa, Work Visa, Miscellaneous, and some others that are listed below.
India Visa - List of Main Categories
Here's a List of Main Categories of Indian Visa, as per the latest rationalisation, on November 2026.
|
S. No. |
Main category of visa |
Purpose for which granted |
|
1 |
Business Visa
|
Long-term business activities including establishing an industrial/business venture; short- term business activities like participation in sports & cultural/commercial performances, production investment business, attending conferences, shooting of films including documentaries & advertisement films. |
|
2 |
Diplomatic Visa |
Diplomats including UN Diplomats assigned to India or visiting India and their dependants |
|
3 |
Work Visa |
Long-term employment with Indian companies/organisations, working in NGOs and missionary activities |
|
4 |
Journalist Visa |
Journalists accredited in India |
|
5 |
Medical Visa |
Foreigners visiting India to undergo intensive/indoor medical treatment including treatment under Ayush systems and their attendants |
|
6 |
Official Visa |
Non-diplomatic officials including UN non-diplomatic officials assigned to India or on a visit to India and their dependants |
|
7 |
Student Visa |
School/graduate/post-graduate education, studies in Yoga, Vedic Culture & Indian Music/Dance, Buddhist studies, studies of Indian Languages & Indian knowledge systems, research, internship and exchange students |
|
8 |
Visitor Visa |
Tourism, short-term activities including business meetings, medical consultations & Wellness retreats, transit, and mountaineering |
|
9 |
Miscellaneous Visa |
Persons of Indian Origin & their spouses/children, those coming to join various specified institutions like Auroville Foundation, dependants of foreign nationals coming on various long duration visas, stay visa for Afghanistan nationals, Long Term Visa for certain categories of nationals from neighbouring countries and other miscellaneous purposes not covered by any other visa category. |
- Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Government of India rationalizes Indian visa regime - Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted On: 11 NOV 2026 7:39PM by PIB Delhi.
- Post by Ministry of Tourism @tourismgoi on X. 6:56 PM - Nov 13, 2026.