India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced a simpler visa system. The number of main visa categories is cut from 13 to 9 and the number of sub-categories from 49 to 23. Application forms for all 23 sub-categories lose 65% to 70% of their fields. MHA took the decision on 27 August 2026 and published it on 11 November 2026.
The change is not live yet. MHA says it is updating its IT systems and that visas will be granted under the new framework by the end of 2026. No new date or fee has been published.
The main changes
The nine main categories are Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor and Miscellaneous.
What travel sellers should do
Keep selling the current e-Visa for now. Until MHA switches its systems, travellers still apply under today's categories and forms.
Prepare your wording. The Tourist Visa becomes the Visitor Visa. Get ready to update product names, help pages and confirmation emails when the switch happens. Do not assume today's e-Tourist Visa maps one-to-one to V-1 or V-2 until MHA says so.
Watch the mixed trips. V-1 covers business meetings and medical consultations alongside tourism. Once live, that may let you offer one visa where travellers combine leisure and business.
Expect shorter forms. Plan to retest your form mapping once the new forms appear.
Check before you promise. MHA has not published exact validity for the e-Visa version of V-1, a switch-over date or any fee change. Don't quote new terms to customers until the official portal shows them.
Dates
Ministry of Home Affairs via PIB: Government of India rationalizes Indian visa regime, 11 Nov 2026 verified 12 November 2026