# India cuts visa categories from 13 to 9 and sub-categories from 49 to 23 URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-11-12/visa-regime-nine-categories/ Date: 12 November 2026 (2026-11-12) Source: The Hindu, Page 11 UPSC papers: GS2, GS3 Publisher: upsc.help (Pratidin), free and open-source UPSC Civil Services current affairs. Not affiliated with UPSC. Every fact was checked against the source reports by a separate review before publishing. **In one line:** India has merged its visa types into nine categories and 23 sub-categories, renamed the Tourist visa as the Visitor visa and cut application forms by up to 70%. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has rationalised India's visa regime, the government said in a release on 11 November 2026. The changes were made on 27 August 2026. Main visa categories fall from 13 to 9 and sub-categories from 49 to 23. This is the second round: in October 2025 the regime had been cut from 22 categories and 63 sub-categories to 13 and 49. The nine categories now are Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor and Miscellaneous. The number of fields an applicant must fill across the 23 sub-categories has been cut by 65% to 70%. MHA is updating its IT systems, and visas are to be issued under the new framework by the end of the year. The Tourist visa has been renamed the Visitor visa. V-1 is valid for 30 days with multiple entries and covers tourism, business meetings, medical consultation, wellness retreats, short medical treatment and short courses in Indian languages, music, art and craft. V-2 is for longer stays of 1, 5 or 10 years and also covers mountaineering. Medical visas are M-1 (treatment other than AYUSH) and M-3 (AYUSH treatment), with M-2 and M-4 for attendants; M-1 and M-3 are granted for one year with multiple entries by default. Student visas are S-1 and S-2, plus e-S1 for students enrolled through the Study in India portal, valid up to five years or the course length. Business visas are B-1 (long-term, licence-based) and B-2 (short-term, contract-based), which now includes the Production Investment Business visa formerly called e-B4. The government says the aim is a compact and coherent regime modelled on global practice, with less overlap, faster applications and more focused scrutiny by officials. It expects more tourist arrivals, medical value travel and foreign students, in line with the 'Heal in India' vision. e-Visas are available to nationals of 172 countries through electronic travel authorisation under 13 sub-categories. The reform sits on the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which came into force on 1 September 2025 and replaced four older laws on passports, registration of foreigners and carriers' liability. The test will be whether simpler forms come with faster, more predictable decisions at missions and ports of entry. ## Prelims facts - MHA's changes of 27 August 2026 cut main visa categories from 13 to 9 and sub-categories from 49 to 23; a 2025 round had cut them from 22 and 63. - The Tourist visa is renamed Visitor visa: V-1 (30 days, multiple entry) and V-2 (1, 5 or 10 years, also covering mountaineering). - Medical visas M-1 (non-AYUSH) and M-3 (AYUSH) are granted for one year with multiple entries by default; M-2 and M-4 are for attendants. - Application fields across the 23 sub-categories have been cut by 65% to 70%; e-Visa is available to nationals of 172 countries. - The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, in force from 1 September 2025, replaced the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000. ## Quick recall - **Visa categories before and after the August 2026 changes?** 13 main categories and 49 sub-categories, cut to 9 and 23. - **What was the Tourist visa renamed?** Visitor visa. - **Validity of a V-1 visa?** 30 days, multiple entries. - **Which medical visa is for AYUSH treatment?** M-3 (M-4 is for its attendant). - **Which student visa is for Study in India portal students?** e-S1, valid up to five years or the course length, whichever is shorter. - **By how much were application form fields cut?** 65% to 70% across the 23 sub-categories. - **How many countries' nationals can use India's e-Visa?** 172. - **When did the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 come into force?** 1 September 2025. ## Prelims practice question Under India's rationalised visa regime announced in November 2026, the 'V-1' visa refers to: (a) A one-year medical visa for AYUSH treatment (b) A 30-day multiple-entry Visitor visa covering tourism and short visits (c) A long-term business visa for setting up industrial ventures (d) A visa for students enrolled through the Study in India portal Answer: (b) A 30-day multiple-entry Visitor visa covering tourism and short visits. V-1 is the Visitor visa (formerly Tourist visa) valid for 30 days with multiple entries. AYUSH treatment is M-3, long-term licence-based business is B-1, and Study in India students get e-S1. ## UPSC previous-year questions this connects to - UPSC Mains 2018, GS2: E-governance is not only about utilisation of the power of new technology, but also much about the critical importance of the 'use value' of information. Explain. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q324-e-governance-not-only-about-utilisation-power-new/) How to use this story in the answer: Cite the 2026 visa reform as e-governance that redesigns forms around information actually used, not just digitises them. - UPSC Mains 2014, GS3: Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base? (https://upsc.help/pyq/q009-normally-countries-shift-agriculture-industry-then-later/) How to use this story in the answer: Use the visa reform as an example of policy aimed at service-sector growth through tourism, medical value travel and education. ## Mains practice question India has cut its visa categories from 13 to 9 and simplified application forms. Discuss how visa policy can support tourism, medical value travel and education, and the security safeguards it must retain. (150 words) ### Model answer On 11 November 2026 the government announced that MHA had cut main visa categories from 13 to 9 and sub-categories from 49 to 23, and trimmed form fields by 65% to 70%. ## How visa policy supports growth - **Tourism**: the Visitor visa (V-1, 30 days; V-2, up to 10 years) bundles tourism, meetings and short courses. - **Medical value travel**: M-1 and M-3 (AYUSH) visas are granted for one year with multiple entries, backing 'Heal in India'. - **Education**: e-S1 for Study in India students runs up to five years. - **Investment**: B-2 covers foreign technicians for Indian firms through e-Visa. ## Safeguards to retain - Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 penalties for forged visas and passports. - Reporting of foreigners by hotels, universities and hospitals. - Focused scrutiny, which leaner forms are meant to enable. Simpler categories help most when paired with fast, predictable decisions and firm checks at entry. ## The basics ## Why this matters A visa is a country's front door. How many kinds of visa there are, how long they last and how long the form takes all shape whether tourists, patients, students and engineers choose India. The November 2026 rationalisation is a governance reform with economic goals. ## What a visa is A visa is permission from a country to a foreign national to seek entry for a stated purpose and period. In India, visas are issued by missions abroad or electronically, and admission at the border is still decided by immigration officers under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. ## The nine categories ## Why fewer categories Many old categories overlapped. A traveller who wanted to see a doctor, attend a meeting and tour a city might need to choose between visas. Consolidating purposes into a single Visitor visa reduces confusion. Trimming form fields by 65% to 70% is meant to cut applicant effort and let officials focus on what matters, a classic e-Visa and digital service delivery gain. ## What it is meant to achieve The government links the reform to tourism, foreign students and Medical value travel and Heal in India. Visa design is also part of a country's Visa policy as soft power: easier entry builds people-to-people ties, while security checks remain under the 2025 Act. ## Sources - https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2335182®=48&lang=2 - https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/immigration-and-foreigners-act%2C-2025 - https://www.nextias.com/ca/headlines-of-the-day/12-11-2026/88526