Southern Asia · Immigration

India

58 immigration routes

India sits in Southern Asia. Its immigration system runs 58 distinct routes — led by short stay & visit, family and medical treatment, each set out in official law. 57 of them cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
58across 14 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
57 of 58cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Short stay & visit12 of the 58 routes — see them under Short stay & visit below
Region
Southern Asia
Capital
New Delhi
Population
1,463,865,525
Official language
English, Hindi · +1
Currency
INR
Time zone
UTC+05:30
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 58 routes, grouped by purpose — 57 of 58 cite an official government source directly. Any route below without one says so on the route.

Work

3 routes
Employment Visa

Foreign national undertaking eligible remunerative employment, an intra-company transfer, qualifying honorary NGO work, or designated university employment under the applicable E sub-category.

Official government source: indianvisaonline.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28
Project Visa

Skilled or highly skilled foreign national engaged to execute an eligible project in the power or steel sector, subject to project-specific ceilings.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Investment

1 route

Business & self-employment

2 routes

Bona fide business activity under the applicable B sub-category, including business visits, investors, company partners or directors and other approved business purposes.

Official government source: indianvisaonline.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Eligible national undertaking a permitted electronic business-visa purpose and supplying the required business documentation.

Official government source: indianvisaonline.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Talent & merit

5 routes

Eligible applicant using the electronic film-production route.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29
Film Visa

Foreign national coming to shoot a feature film, reality programme or commercial television serial under the approved film process.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Intern sponsored by an eligible Indian company, educational institution, NGO or media organisation under the applicable I sub-category.

Official government source: indianvisaonline.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Accredited or visiting foreign journalist, media professional, or person undertaking the published documentary or advertising filming purpose.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28
Research Visa

Research scholar, visiting faculty, bilateral-exchange researcher or member of an approved scientific expedition under the applicable R stream.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Study

2 routes

Eligible national applying electronically for an approved study purpose and supplying the documentation required by the e-Visa portal.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29

Admission to an eligible Indian school, college, university, short course, exchange programme or other published S sub-category.

Official government source: indianvisaonline.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Family

10 of 10 say who you can bring
10 routes

Electronic dependent route linked to an e-Student Visa.

Can bring: dependants
Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29

Residence-based status

3 routes

Eligible applicant using the electronic X-1 entry route.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29

Cultural, religious & volunteer

2 routes

Missionary or religious worker of an approved organisation.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Short stay & visit

12 routes

Participant in an eligible government or non-government conference in India.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Eligible conference participant with the organiser invitation and required event clearances.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29

National of Japan, South Korea, or an eligible UAE national meeting the published conditions and travelling for business, tourism, conference or medical purposes.

Official government source: indianvisaonline.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Humanitarian protection

0 of 1 source-cited
1 route

Medical treatment

3 of 6 say who you can bring
6 routes

Eligible attendant linked to an e-Ayush Visa patient.

Can bring: spouse, children, siblings, parents
Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29

Eligible national receiving treatment under an Indian system of medicine at an eligible facility.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29

Eligible attendant accompanying a Medical Visa patient.

Can bring: spouse, children, siblings, parents
Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Foreign national travelling for medical treatment in India.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Sports

4 routes

Foreign national participating in an approved mountaineering expedition.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Transit

2 routes

Eligible national using the electronic transit route with onward travel.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-29

Traveller passing through India to a destination outside India and holding onward travel evidence.

Official government source: indianvisaonline.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Other & special

5 routes

Diplomat assigned to or officially visiting India on a diplomatic passport.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Non-diplomatic official assigned to or visiting India for an official purpose on an official, service or special passport.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

UN non-diplomatic official assigned to or officially visiting India.

Official government source: mha.gov.in · checked 2026-07-28

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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