India's visa forms may get shorter by 70% — What applicants should know

India is considering a major revamp of its visa framework, with the Union Home Ministry proposing to reduce the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine and cut the length of application forms by around 70 per cent. The proposed changes are aimed at making the process simpler for foreign nationals seeking to visit the country.

According to a PTI report citing officials, the proposals are part of a wider review of the Visa Manual, 2019. The exercise is expected to cover all visa categories and sub-categories, along with amendments to several chapters and appendices of the existing manual.

What will change under the proposed visa reforms?

The proposed overhaul focuses on reducing the number of options applicants have to navigate and removing unnecessary details from application forms.

The main visa categories are expected to come down from 13 to nine, while the number of sub-categories could be reduced from 49 to 23.

The government is also looking to remove around 70 per cent of the existing fields in visa application forms. Information that is repetitive, overlapping or no longer required is likely to be dropped, reducing the amount of paperwork involved.

Why is the government reviewing the visa system?

An August meeting discussed amendments to different chapters and Appendices I and II of the Visa Manual, 2019. Officials decided to rationalise the existing visa regime and bring it closer to global norms.

The proposed changes are expected to make it easier for applicants to identify the right visa category and complete the required formalities.

Who will benefit and when will changes take effect?

Foreign tourists, business travellers, students and professionals applying for Indian visas are among those likely to benefit from the simplified framework.

However, the government has not announced an implementation date. The revised categories and forms will be introduced only after the required amendments to the manual are completed. Until then, existing visa categories and application requirements will remain in force.

India recorded around 6.91 lakh foreign tourist arrivals in August 2026, a 10.6 per cent increase from the same month last year. Bangladesh recorded the largest increase, with over 74,000 visitors, while arrivals from China more than doubled to over 9,000. Tourist arrivals from the US and UK rose by around 3 per cent, while Canada, Germany, Malaysia and Sri Lanka registered growth of 10-15 per cent.