One would require a medical visa if he or she is travelling abroad for his or her treatments. The availability, criteria and ones eligibility of getting a medical visa matters. So, one should know all the information regarding medical visa lest it becomes tricky or confusing.
Eligible candidates for medical visa to India
- Your eligibility of getting a medical visa depends on various criteria which are:
- If you seek treatment at a recognized or reputed or specialized hospital in India
- A maximum of two attendants can accompany you to the country. They have to be your family members. The duration of the visa will be the same as that of your medical visa.
- You will definitely be considered for a medical visa if you are suffering from the following ailments: neurosurgery, ophthalmic disorders, cardiac illness, renal disorders, organ transplantation, congenital disorders, gene therapy, radiotherapy, plastic surgery, orthopedic treatments.
Documents required for Medical Visa to India
The following documents are required for applying for medical visa to India:1. For adults:
a) Address proof: You have to submit a proof of your current address.
- State issued driver’s license that still has a validity for the next 6 months;
- Utility bill (water, electricity or gas) that must be more than three months old;
- Valid lease with the signature of the landlord or tenant ( this is applicable only for those that are arriving from Atlanta, Houstan or New York. For those who are from New York, the lease has to be notarized).
- The address cannot include a P.O. Box
- College or university students who stay in the university housing or dormitory has to submit a letter from the institution with the exact current address mentioned on the letterhead.
- Mobile bills, credit card statements, bank statements or lease agreements will not be accepted.
- For family or group applications only one copy of the address proof is required if the family resides in the same house.
c) Passport: Should provide the current passport with 180 days of validity and two blank pages. Applicants who have dual citizenship with the U.S and another country should provide their US passport.
Bangladesh citizens require to fill two forms and provide two photos.
d) A copy of the passport of the patient applying for medical visa. If the visa has already been issued then a copy of the medical visa is also required.
e) Marriage or birth certificate issued by the government to prove the relation with the patient and the one who is accompanying him or her.
f) Medical reports on the basis of which the medical visa was granted.
g) Non-US citizens has to provide a copy of the permanent resident card and employment authorization card showing pages H1/H4, L1/L2, F1/F2, J1/J2 etc.
2. For Minors:
a) Minors of other countries should submit their birth certificate copy or any government issued documents showing parents’ name, date of birth and nationality. The documents should be translated to English and should be notarized.
b) Only birth certificates are accepted for US born minors
Visa invitation letter
When you are applying for a medical visa, a visa invitation letter is required. A visa invitation letter is a formal document which is sent to the patient from the hospital of his or her desired country that sanctions his or her medical treatment in that hospital of the country.It also serves the purpose of a proof that the patient has indeed contacted with that hospital and will be having his or her treatment there. The visa invitation letter consists of the patient details as well as the details of his or her ailment, the treatment procedure and duration of the treatment involved.
A visa invitation letter is, therefore, an important and mandatory document required during the application and for the sanction of a medical visa to the patient.
Visa Fee
| Country | Duration | Visa Fee (in US dollars) |
| US |
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| UK |
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| Sri Lanka |
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| Nigeria |
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| Kenya |
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| Mali |
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| New Zealand |
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| Myanmar |
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| Nepal |
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| Kazakhstan |
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| Uzbekistan |
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| Kyrgyztan |
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| Ethiopia |
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| Ghana |
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| Fiji |
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Consular fee is not charged for the following country nationals:
- Afghanistan
- Argentina
- Bangladesh
- Jamaica
- Korea, DPR North Korea
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- South Africa
- Uruguay
Difference between Medical Visa and Tourism Visa
The difference between medical visa and tourism visa are:| Medical Visa | Tourist Visa |
| Medical visa is for those people who are going to have their treatments in another country. | Tourist visa is for those who are going abroad for recreation and travelling purposes. |
| Medical visa requires visa invitation letter from the hospital | Tourist visa does not require any such documents. |
| The patient has to share the medical reports provided by both the local doctor and the doctor he or she has consulted abroad with the embassy. | Medical records do not play a crucial part for acquiring a tourist visa. |
| There is an entry portal in medical visa that limits the patients to one particular city where they want their treatment to be done. It cannot be changed later. | In tourist visa one can go anywhere he or she wants in a country. |
| Medical visa costs more than tourist visa. | Tourist visa does not cost much. |
Visa Extensions: When, How, Where, Documents Required
Medical visa extension can be difficult. It is not only because one has to get an officially written document of permission from the reputed hospital he or she is having treatment in, but also because the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs in India will take it under detailed scrutiny.The most important thing for getting a medical visa extended is to get ones documents right. Here is the list of the important documents required for a medical visa extension:
- Applicant’s photo
- Photo page
- Page indicating validity
- Page bearing arrival stamp of Indian Immigration
- Visa with endorsement
- Form C copy from Hotel or Lodge/ electricity bill/ landline telephone/ municipal bill of the landlord if staying in a friend or relative’s house along with a letter and photo id card of the landlord.
- In case of rented accommodation, copy of the lease and license agreement (first and last page containing validity) is required.
- Letter from recognized/reputed hospital where the treatment is taken clearly mentioning the duration of the treatment and period of extension required.
- Registration Certificate / Residential Permit.
FRRO
The foreigner regional registration office (FRRO)is the primary agency that regulates the registration, movement, stay, departure, and also extension of stay in India. One has to go to the FRRO office if he or she needs to extend her medical visas.- Foreigners coming to India for their medical treatment need to have themselves registered in the FRRO office within 14 days of his or her arrival in the country.
- Pakistani nationals have to register at the check-post of entry into India. They need to hand over the visa application form given to them by the Indian Mission Abroad to get the Residential Permit in India.
- Afghan nationals have to register with the concerned FRRO within 7 days of their arrival in India.
- Bangaladeshi nationals are exempted from registration up to 180 days of their stay in the country. Beyond that they would require an FRRO registration.
- Application form.
- Photocopy of the passport and the initial visa.
- Four photographs of the applicant.
- Details of residence in India.
Tips to crack the medical visa interview
Visa interviews can be quite confusing as the consulate officer will be asking you a lot of questions. At that point of time if you are not confident enough or if you cannot answer certain questions, then it marks a negative impression on him.Apart from being confident the best thing that you do is to practice answering in a concise and straight manner. Practice your answers. You should know your details and the details of the one accompanying you thoroughly. You should speak for yourself. Some of the things on which the consulate officer is going to ask you questions are:
- Your address and contacts
- The address and contacts of the one who is accompanying you
- About your passport
- Your relation with the person
- Reason for choosing India
- Your ailment in particular
- Treatment in your native country
- Medical reports
- Time required for the treatment. He may also tell you to take as little time as possible in India for your treatment
During your visa interview, make sure that you have carried all the important documents, both original as well as photocopied. Visa application may get cancelled if you cannot produce any of the required documents.
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