Government to issue e-visas for medical tourists

Initial 30-day visas could be extended for up to a year

The Indian government is planning to expand its e-visa scheme to cover patients seeking prolonged medical treatment in the country, the Indian Express reports.

Under the new programme, applicants from nearly 150 countries eligible for e-tourist visas will be able to apply online for medical visas, if they have scanned copies of medical prescriptions from a government-accredited hospital in their country. The applicants’ biometric details will be taken on arrival.

An initial short-term medical visa will be valid for 30 days from the date of arrival, after which it can be extended by up to one year. Further extensions could be granted if they are approved by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Currently, patients coming to India have to wait for several weeks, visit embassies and obtain a certificate from the Indian hospital where they expect to undergo treatment.

The newspaper states that an announcement regarding this issue is likely to be made after the current session of parliament.