India to Revise Visa System, Reducing Categories and Application Fields
The Union Home Ministry plans to overhaul India's visa system by reducing main visa categories from 13 to nine and cutting application forms by 70%. This initiative aims to simplify the visa application process and align it with global standards. Proposed changes will affect all visa categories and sub-categories, focusing on eliminating repetitive information. A meeting in August discussed amendments to the Visa Manual, 2019, but no implementation date has been announced. Current visa categories and requirements remain in effect until the new framework is established. The reforms are expected to benefit various foreign nationals, including tourists and business travelers, by making it easier to identify appropriate visa types.
Published 2 days ago • 05 Nov 2026, 07:35 PM IST