Due to the skilled professionals and relatively lower cost of medical treatment, India's medical tourism industry is growing rapidly. Each year thousands of foreign nationals visit India for medical purposes. However, the real question is, do you need a visa to enter India for medical treatment?
Well, all foreign nationals, including Australian passport holders, are required to get a valid visa prior to visiting India. In this article, we have mentioned everything an Australian citizen needs to know in order to visit the country for medical purposes.
Indian Visa Option for Medical Treatment
To Australian citizens, India issues different types of visas for different purposes. For tourism, you can apply for a e-tourist visa. Alternatively, you can get a Indian business visa for professional and commercial activities. Just like that, Australian nationals are required to have a medical visa in order to visit the country.
Fortunately, the government of India offers an electronic visa for medical purposes. This one is faster and more convenient compared to the traditional visa. Unlike a traditional visa, you can get a medical e-visa within 3-5 working days, which is quite impressive.
Applying for an India e-Visa Online
The best thing about an Indian e-visa is that you can apply for it on your own. You don’t need to visit the Indian embassy or follow complicated steps. All you need to do is follow 4 simple steps:
Fill out the e-visa application form
Pay the visa processing fee
Submit required documents
Submit your India visa application form
Once done, you will get your visa via email. You don’t even have to schedule an appointment for your visa interview with an Indian consulate officer. However, don’t forget to make sure whether or not you are eligible for an Indian e-visa: discussed below!
Required Documents
To fill out the application form, you'll need to provide personal details, travel information and contact details. You will also have to provide your passport information, including passport number and expiration date.
To get a medical e-visa, ordinary passport holders are required to submit a handful of documents, also known as visa requirements. These documents include:
A copy of your original passport
Recent photograph
Letter from the hospital
That's it! Indian visa issued by an online site is applied directly at the India Immigration Office. To get your e-visa, your passport must stay valid for at least 6 months. In addition, it should have at least 2 blank pages. The letter from the hospital must be written on letterhead.
It is recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccination certificate beforehand to avoid self-isolation. Furthermore, all travelers must have the health declaration form. Otherwise, they will be denied boarding.
Processing Time
The processing time is different for different applicants. On average, an Australian citizen will get his/her visa within 3-5 working days. However, due to the high demand and secondary checks, you may have to wait a little longer.
Validity Period
Indian medical visa is a triple-entry document that stays valid for 60 days. This means a holder of this e-visa can enter India 3 times within a 60-day period. You can stay in the country until the visa expires. Afterwards, you'll need to leave the country or get a new visa.
Keep in mind that a visa does not guarantee your entry to the country. The immigration officer has the final say!
Eligibility Criteria for Indian e-Visa
Unlike a traditional visa, not all Australian passport holders are eligible for an Indian e-visa. Following citizens cannot apply for an Indian visa online:
International travel document holders
Laissez-passer travel document holders
Official/diplomatic passport holders
Anyone with a criminal history
Moreover, if you have visited the Republic of China after January 15, 2020, you are not eligible for an Indian e-visa.
In addition, designers, photographers, writers, and journalists, regardless of the purpose, are required to have a journalist visa to enter India.
Indian Embassy in Australia
As long as you are applying for an India visa online, you don’t need to visit the Indian embassy. This entire process is streamlined. You can fill out your application, pay the visa fee, and submit your documents online. Afterwards, you'll get your visa via email.
However, if you are not eligible for an e-visa, you'll have to apply for a visa from the Indian embassy. At the embassy, you might have to schedule a visa interview as well. Usually, applying for a traditional visa from the embassy can take an entire day. So, make sure you don’t have any other important appointments for that certain day!
Indian Embassy Address
3-5 Moonah Pl, Yarralumla ACT 2600,
Australia