India Medical Visa and Attendant Visa: What Families Should Verify Before Travel

Families travelling to India for planned medical treatment should verify the correct visa category, passport validity, hospital letter requirements, application timing, attendant eligibility, return travel requirements, and current official rules before booking. AfiyaBridge can help coordinate hospital visa letters, but cannot guarantee visa approval.

Important First Step

Visa rules can change. Always verify current requirements on the official Government of India visa portal or with the relevant Indian mission before applying or travelling.

Avoid unofficial websites that look similar to government portals. Use the official Indian visa website:

https://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/

What The Official e-Visa Portal Stated On 2026-05-17

As of this review date, the official Government of India e-Visa portal stated:

• e-Medical Visa duration: 60 days from date of arrival.
• e-Medical Visa entries: triple entry.
• e-Medical Attendant Visa duration: 60 days from date of arrival.
• e-Medical Attendant Visa entries: triple entry.
• Only two e-Medical Attendant Visas are granted against one e-Medical Visa.
• Eligible applicants for e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant visas may apply online a minimum of 4 days before the date of arrival, with a 120-day arrival-date window.
• Passport should have at least six months validity at the time of application.
• Travellers should have a return ticket or onward journey ticket and sufficient money to spend during the stay.
• For e-Medical Visa, the required documents include the scanned passport bio page and a copy of a letter from the hospital in India on its letterhead.

These details must be rechecked before publication and before any family applies.

Medical Visa vs Medical Attendant Visa

The patient normally applies under the medical visa category when travelling for medical treatment.

An accompanying family member may need a medical attendant visa category if travelling as the attendant to the medical visa holder.

The exact visa category should be verified on the official portal or with the Indian mission. Do not assume a tourist visa is appropriate for planned hospital treatment.

What Families Should Prepare

Before starting a visa process, prepare:

• Patient passport.
• Attendant passport if applicable.
• Hospital appointment or invitation letter if required.
• Patient photograph according to official specifications.
• Passport bio page scan.
• Travel dates.
• Address in India if already known.
• Return or onward travel plan.
• Payment method for official visa fee.
• Email address that the family checks regularly.

The official portal may request additional documents depending on visa type and current rules.

Hospital Letter Coordination

For planned treatment travel, the hospital may need to provide a letter that supports the visa application.

Ask the hospital:

• Can you issue a visa invitation or medical letter?
• What patient details are required?
• Will the letter include appointment or tentative admission date?
• How long does the letter take?
• Can attendant names be included if needed?
• Which hospital contact can answer embassy or visa questions?

AfiyaBridge can coordinate this request with the hospital, but the hospital controls the content of the medical letter.

What AfiyaBridge Can Coordinate

AfiyaBridge can help:

• Identify whether a hospital letter is needed.
• Request the letter from the hospital coordinator.
• Track whether the hospital has sent it.
• Help the family organize travel-readiness documents.
• Remind the family to verify visa rules through official sources.

What AfiyaBridge Cannot Do

AfiyaBridge cannot:

• Guarantee visa approval.
• Override government rules.
• Submit false information.
• Advise families to use the wrong visa category.
• Promise emergency or express approval.
• Replace the official visa portal or Indian mission.

Visa Timing Questions To Ask Before Booking

Before booking flights, ask:

• Has the visa been granted?
• Does the visa category match the purpose of travel?
• Are all attendant visas granted?
• Does the ETA or visa document show the correct passport details?
• Is the arrival date within the allowed window?
• Does the family have printed and digital copies?
• Does the airline require any additional medical clearance?

Do not rely only on "application submitted" as travel readiness.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Avoid:

• Applying through unofficial websites without checking the domain.
• Booking flights before visa clarity.
• Assuming attendants are automatically covered.
• Using unclear passport scans.
• Applying with an expired or soon-expiring passport.
• Ignoring emails requesting document re-upload.
• Assuming visa approval is guaranteed because a hospital letter exists.

Next Step

If your family is preparing to travel for planned hospital care in India, first confirm the hospital appointment and whether a hospital letter is required. Then verify visa rules through official sources before booking flights.

Medical Boundary

AfiyaBridge provides non-clinical hospital navigation and family concierge support. We do not diagnose, prescribe, recommend a treatment as medically superior, or guarantee hospital pricing, visa approval, or treatment outcomes. Medical advice comes from licensed doctors and hospitals.

Source Notes

• Government of India e-Visa portal: https://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/