The AYUSH Visa Explained: Travelling to India for Ayurveda Treatment

If you're a foreign national planning an Ayurveda, yoga, Siddha, Unani, naturopathy or homeopathy programme in India, you may come across the "AYUSH visa". This guide summarises what official Government of India sources say. Visa rules change, and official pages can differ in detail, so always confirm on the official portal before you apply. LongevityVeda isn't a visa agent and doesn't process applications.

What "AYUSH" means

AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, the traditional and complementary systems overseen by India's Ministry of Ayush.

The AYUSH visa category

According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) note, the Government of India introduced a dedicated AYUSH Visa on 27 July 2023. It allows foreign nationals and their attendants to travel to India specifically for treatment under recognised AYUSH systems (PIB press note). The government lists it among several steps to promote AYUSH-based medical value travel, alongside an MoU between the Ministry of Ayush and the India Tourism Development Corporation and a series of AYUSH Medical Value Travel summits (PIB).

The e-Visa route: e-Medical (for e-Ayush purpose)

On India's official e-Visa portal, the instructions list "e-Medical Visa (For e-Ayush purpose)" and "e-Medical Attendant Visa (For e-Ayush Attendant purpose)" as application types (Indian e-Visa portal). The same page notes that the e-Visa is available for "medical treatment, including treatment under Indian systems of medicine".

Documents listed on the portal (e-Ayush)

• A scanned bio page of your passport
• A copy of a letter from the hospital concerned in India, on its letterhead, giving the date or tentative date of admission. For e-Medical visas generally, the FAQ says the letter should include the patient's name, nationality and passport number
• A recent photograph meeting the portal's specifications

Timing and validity (as published, so check before applying)

• The portal says applicants can apply at least 4 days before arrival, within a 120-day window.
• Note on validity: the portal page we reviewed in October 2026 shows different figures in different sections. The visa list gives e-Medical visas as "One year (365 days) from the date of arrival", while the FAQ says "60 days from the date of first arrival" with multiple entries. Because of this, confirm the current validity on the portal or with the e-Visa support centre before planning a long programme.
• The portal says e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible.
• It says only two e-Medical Attendant visas are granted per e-Medical visa.
• Fees are country-specific and non-refundable, and the portal warns against paying unofficial agents for "express" processing.

Entry points

e-Visa holders must arrive through designated airports and seaports. The portal lists South Indian airports including Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin, Calicut, Kannur, Bengaluru, Mangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy (e-Visa portal).

Tourist visa vs AYUSH/medical visa

The portal's eligibility FAQ says e-Visas can cover "attending short term yoga programme" under tourism-type purposes, and "medical treatment, including treatment under Indian systems of medicine" under medical purposes. If your trip is mainly a doctor-supervised treatment programme at an Ayurveda hospital, the e-Ayush (medical) route may be the right one. If it's a short yoga holiday, a tourist e-Visa may be. Choose the category that honestly matches your purpose, and if you're unsure, ask the official support centre.

Practical steps

1. Choose your provider and confirm treatment dates.
2. Ask the provider for a letter on its letterhead with the admission date and your passport details.
3. Apply only on the official portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/
4. Print your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and carry it with you.
5. Arrive at a designated port, where biometrics are captured on arrival.
6. Keep copies of the treatment letter and receipts.

Official contacts

The portal lists an e-Visa support email (indian-evisa[at]gov[dot]in) and phone numbers for queries (e-Visa portal).

FAQ

When was the AYUSH visa introduced?

On 27 July 2023, according to PIB (PIB).

Can I apply online?

Yes. The official e-Visa portal lists an e-Medical visa "for e-Ayush purpose".

What documents do I need?

Your passport bio page, a photo, and a letter from the Indian hospital or centre with your admission date, as listed on the portal.

How long is it valid?

The official page shows conflicting figures (365 days in one section, 60 days in the FAQ). Confirm on the portal before applying.

Can family come with me?

Up to two e-Medical Attendant visas can be granted per patient, according to the portal.

Does LongevityVeda arrange visas?

No. Apply only through the official government portal.

Sources

• PIB press note on Medical Value Travel and the AYUSH Visa: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?ModuleId=3&NoteId=158426&lang=1&reg=3
• PIB release on Ayush MVT promotion: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2287033&lang=1&reg=48
• Indian e-Visa portal, instructions and FAQ: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

About this guide: LongevityVeda is a directory that connects travellers with independent providers. This guide summarises publicly available information from the sources linked above. It is not medical advice, and LongevityVeda has not inspected, visited or verified any provider mentioned or linked here. Providers are responsible for their own claims and services. Talk to a qualified doctor before starting any treatment programme.