In a pivotal move aimed at bolstering the authenticity and safety of medical travel, India has announced that, effective April 1st, 2025, a System-Generated Medical Invitation Letter is now mandatory for both India e-Medical and e-Ayush Visas. This change stresses the country’s commitment to ensuring that only genuine hospitals invite genuine patients seeking treatment.
Below is an in-depth look at this recent development, how it impacts patients worldwide, and why it might just be a game-changer for medical tourism in India.
The rule introduced on April 1st, 2025, states that any applicant wishing to obtain an e-Medical Visa or an e-Ayush Visa must now secure a system-generated Medical Invitation Letter. This letter comes directly from a registered medical facility or an approved health institution in India. The mandate was put in place to regulate the verification process and help weed out fraudulent medical travel requests.
With medical tourism on the rise, it is vital to ensure that the arriving patients are justifiable, and the hospitals they choose meet specific standards. Thus, by implementing a system-generated letter, the Indian government aims to enhance transparency, reduce paperwork, and maintain records in a central database.
Anyone planning to visit India for medical treatment is strongly encouraged to gather all official documentation before applying for a visa. This fosters patient-hospital trust between the two parties even before the patient sets foot on Indian soil.
When it comes to visiting India for healthcare, there are two primary types of electronic visas to consider:
This visa is designated for foreign nationals seeking conventional medical treatment in India. From life-saving surgeries and serious conditions to routine and follow-up consultations, an e-Medical Visa makes it possible for qualified patients to receive the best of Indian healthcare. If you need more information on requirements and eligibility, you can check the detailed guide on the Indian e-Medical Visa.
The e-Ayush Visa, on the other hand, caters specifically to those who want to undergo traditional Indian systems of medicine. Like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. India has always been a global hub for such treatments, and the introduction of the e-Ayush Visa further opens these ancient healing treatments to international patients.
One reason is that India has seen a high surge in medical tourism over the past decade. Patients from around the world come for treatments that include advanced heart surgeries, organ transplants, regenerative therapies and many wellness programs. As the industry grew, the government recognized the need to reinforce the verification process to ensure safety and curb potential abuse of the system.
By asking every applicant to attach a digitally generated invitation letter, Indian authorities make sure that each case is pre-validated by an official medical board. So, if you are exploring medical treatment in India, this change serves as both a protective measure and a quality check.
A central piece in this entire process is the “Medical and Ayush Visa Portal” (FRRO Portal).
Hospitals, clinics, and recognized healthcare centers must register on the FRRO portal. Once registered, they can generate two key documents:
From a patient’s perspective, portal registration ensures that only duly accredited healthcare facilities can create valid documents. That cuts down the time you would otherwise spend verifying the hospital’s credentials on your own.
Healthcare providers now have an easy way to keep track of their foreign patients, while the government has a more direct line of oversight. This helps build a structured and safer environment for both patients and the healthcare system.
One of the bases of this new approach is to guarantee the authenticity of the invitations. By requiring a digital invitation, the Indian government effectively screens each request for authenticity. This helps confirm that rightful patients are being served by legitimate healthcare institutions.
Now you no longer have to go back-and-forth to collect various certificates. The system-generated letter cuts down on clutter. The introduction of a paperless method benefits applicants, hospitals, and visa officials alike.
The new system enables transparency. As it tracks the entire medical visa process through a single portal, making it easier to identify red flags and questionable claims.
India’s ancient healing sciences—Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy—have gained renewed global recognition. As more patients discover the benefits of these methods, the e-Ayush Visa becomes the road for healing the mind, body, and spirit.
What’s special about Ayush treatments?
Ayush treatments combine age-old wisdom with modern therapeutic approaches. Many individuals around the world value alternative medicine for its gentle nature. This change in the visa requirement ensures that these treatments remain accessible, only through authorized channels that can uphold India’s reputable standards in these practices.
When a patient is traveling for a significant medical procedure or extended treatment, having a loved one or caregiver along can be indispensable. That’s where Attendant Visas come into play:
Not all nationalities are automatically eligible for e-Visas. India has a specific list of e-Visa-eligible countries, and individuals from these countries can apply online without having to schedule an in-person appointment at the embassy.
Before proceeding, it is crucial to confirm that your country appears in India’s approved list. If you are eligible, you can navigate directly to the India e-Visa Application Portal or related government websites to initiate the process.
Once you confirm eligibility, you’ll typically need:
Applicants should note that requirements can vary based on nationality, the type of treatment, and the duration of stay.
Implementing an invitation letter might seem like just another layer of bureaucracy. But in truth, it simplifies the entire medical visa application procedure:
A system-generated Medical Invitation Letter is an official document produced through the “Medical and Ayush Visa Portal.” Once a registered hospital inputs your details, the portal generates an invitation letter that confirms your treatment and the need to travel to India for medical reasons.
Yes. While the invitation letter is mandatory, you will also need standard visa documentation such as a valid passport, passport-sized photographs, proof of financial stability, and any other specifics mentioned in the e-Visa application guidelines.
Attendant visas do not require a separate invitation letter. However, the patient’s invitation letter and visa status directly impact the attendant’s application. It’s vital that the primary applicant’s (patient’s) documentation is in perfect order to ensure the attendant’s visa is approved without complications.
Timeframes can vary depending on the hospital’s administrative workload and your medical case. However, most facilities will issue a system-generated letter within a few business days, provided all necessary details are correctly submitted.
Disclaimer: Although these details were most recently revised in April 2025, we highly recommend verifying all specifics with relevant agencies, embassies, and airlines to ensure complete accuracy for your travel arrangements.
Step1: Complete the online application by providing your passport details.
Step2: Submit payment online using a credit card.
Step3: Monitor your email for confirmation of payment and receipt of your eVisa, which will be sent electronically.
