- Categories
- 13 main visas down to 9
- Sub-categories
- 49 down to 23
- Forms
- 65-70% fewer fields
- Tourist Visa
- Renamed Visitor Visa (V-1, V-2)
- Go-live
- By year-end 2026
Have family members who hold foreign passports and visit India often? India's visa menu just got simpler. The Ministry of Home Affairs has cut the main visa categories from 13 to 9, renamed the Tourist Visa as the Visitor Visa, and says application forms have been shortened by 65 to 70 percent, with the new framework going live by year-end 2026.
What the government announced
The MHA announced the rationalised visa regime on 11 November 2026, based on a decision taken on 27 August 2026. Main categories fall from 13 to 9 and sub-categories from 49 to 23. This is the second cut in about a year: in October 2025 the system went from 22 main categories to 13. The ministry says fields on every application form are down by 65 to 70 percent across all 23 sub-categories, and e-Visas remain available to nationals of 172 countries.
The Tourist Visa is now the Visitor Visa
The old Tourist Visa becomes the Visitor Visa, with V-1 and V-2 sub-categories. Student, Business and Medical visas also sit in fewer, clearer sub-categories. The stated goal is a framework that is more compact, coherent and responsive for foreign visitors, supporting tourism, medical travel, foreign students, research and investment.
What it means for your family
If you have relatives abroad who visit India, their next application after the go-live will use the new categories and the shorter form, which should cut errors and repeat questions. Until the new system goes live by end-2026, applications continue under the current categories, so do not wait for the change if a trip is coming up: apply under whichever framework is open on the portal when you apply.
What is not yet clear
The reports on the announcement do not say that eligibility rules, fees or stay limits change. Check the official portal for your visa type before you apply, and do not assume the shorter form changes the documents you need.
We track visa changes that affect Indian families and their relatives abroad and update this page when the new framework goes live. Last verified: 15 November 2026 against the MHA announcement of 11 November as reported by MigrantIQ (14 November).
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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