Prepare the visa pathway after the hospital accepts the case.
This guide explains the practical sequence for medical and medical-attendant travel to India. Current eligibility and documents must always be confirmed on the Government of India visa portal or with the relevant Indian mission.
Choose the correct official application route
India provides e-Medical and regular medical-visa routes, but eligibility can depend on nationality, passport type, purpose and current government rules. Begin only on the official India Visa Online portal and never rely on a commercial website that imitates a government service.
- Check whether the patient nationality is eligible for e-Visa
- Confirm passport-validity and blank-page requirements
- Use the medical category that matches the purpose of travel
- Review the relevant Indian mission instructions when e-Visa is unavailable
Coordinate the hospital letter first
The official e-Visa guidance lists a letter from the concerned Indian hospital among the medical-visa documents. The hospital generally issues this only after reviewing enough case information to support a proposed consultation, admission or treatment date.
- Patient name exactly as shown in the passport
- Hospital and treating department information
- Proposed or tentative admission date where applicable
- Clear scanned passport biographical page
- Recent photograph meeting the portal specification
Plan attendants as separate applicants
An attendant does not travel on the patient’s visa. Each eligible attendant needs a separate passport and application connected to the principal medical traveller. The official portal states the permitted number and category; reconfirm the current rule before applying.
- Match patient and attendant application information
- Keep the hospital letter and relationship information available
- Check whether minors require parental consent documentation
- Coordinate travel dates only after each application is decided
Keep decisions and extensions with the authorities
A hospital invitation is supporting documentation, not a visa approval. Government authorities control approval, validity, entries, registration, extension and admission at the border. If treatment requires a longer stay, consult the jurisdictional FRRO or FRO and the treating hospital before the permitted stay expires.
- Do not purchase inflexible travel solely on an invitation letter
- Carry the passport, authorization and hospital information when travelling
- Follow the visa conditions printed on the authorization and passport
- Use the official FRRO/FRO route for extension or registration questions
Check current official requirements
Official rules can change. Use these government sources before submitting an application or making travel commitments.
Written by the InMedism Editorial Team and reviewed by the InMedism Content Review Team on 26 August 2026 for clarity, facilitation scope and source quality. This is not a clinical review; medical decisions require a qualified treating professional.
Questions patients often ask
These answers provide general coordination information. Questions about diagnosis, risks or treatment require a qualified clinician.
Ask a different question →Does InMedism or the hospital issue the visa?+
No. Only the Government of India and its authorized missions or immigration authorities decide visa applications and entry.
Can InMedism coordinate the hospital invitation?+
After the hospital accepts the case for the relevant review or treatment pathway, InMedism can coordinate the information needed to request the hospital’s supporting letter.
Should I use a tourist visa for planned treatment?+
Use the visa category required by the official authorities for the actual purpose of travel. Confirm the correct category on the official portal or with the relevant Indian mission.
Can InMedism guarantee approval or processing time?+
No. Approval, processing, validity, entry and extensions are controlled entirely by government authorities.