India has announced new visa exemptions for foreigners seeking medical treatment in India. The announcement was made by the Consulate General of India in Dubai following the implementation of a liberalised medical visa policy.
Under the new visa exemptions, foreigners seeking medical treatment in India will not have to get their primary visa converted in a medical visa.
This will be applicable for foreigners obtaining indoor treatment up to 180 days and seeking admission to a hospital due to illness.
New Visa exemptions
India has decided to exempt foreigners seeking indoor treatment up to 180 days and admission in a hospital due to illness from getting their primary visa converted into a medical visa.
As per the exemption, a foreigner suffering from a minor medical condition that requires only OPD consultation or treatment may seek treatment from any hospital, treatment center on primary visa, instead of converting it into a medical visa.
India has also allowed foreigners to obtain indoor treatment on the primary visa. This will be allowed in cases where the required indoor treatment is for less than 180 days or for the stay stipulation period which includes the stipulated time on the primary visa or the duration of the visa, whichever is earlier.
The indoor medical treatment will also cover the treatment of diseases, which the foreigner may have been suffering from before coming to India and were identified by the treating doctor during medical diagnosis necessitating indoor medical treatment in a hospital or treatment center.
Medical visa exemption rules
The visa exemptions will be applicable subject to mentioned conditions to all foreign nationals except Pakistani nationals.
The hospital or treatment center authorities shall be required to note down all the details of the foreigner in a prescribed format along with the details of the indoor medical treatment to be taken by the foreigner, duly certified by the treating doctor to the concerned Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 24 hours after admission.
The treatment of diseases, which require an organ transplant will, however, continue to be permitted only on a medical visa.