Medical visa or ordinary tourist visa?
If your main reason for travelling to India is planned medical treatment, check whether you should apply for a Medical Visa or e-Medical Visa rather than treating the journey as an ordinary tourist visit.
India's official e-Visa system specifically provides an e-Medical Visa for foreign nationals travelling for medical treatment.
Eligible e-Medical applicants must provide a letter from the hospital in India showing the proposed or tentative date of treatment or admission and identifying the patient.
See the official India e-Visa portal.
Does India require a flight ticket for a medical visa?
The answer depends on how and where you apply.
India's general e-Visa rules say international travelers should have a return ticket or onward journey ticket and sufficient money for their stay.
Regular visa requirements can differ between Indian missions.
For example, the High Commission of India in Mozambique currently asks regular visa applicants for a copy of an air ticket reservation, not a confirmed ticket (This is where a dummy flight ticket can be used) .
See the official High Commission of India in Mozambique visa requirements.
What should African medical travelers know?
India is a common medical destination for patients travelling from African countries, but visa procedures are not identical across the continent.
For example:
This is why it is better to check your local Indian mission than to follow a generic “India visa checklist” found online.
What documents matter most for an India medical visa?
For medical travelers, the flight is only one part of the application.
Nairobi's current Medical Visa checklist, for example, requires an Indian hospital invitation, local medical referral or records, proof of funds and a Medical Visa undertaking confirming the purpose of the visit and return home after treatment.
See the official High Commission of India in Nairobi visa requirements.
Do African travelers need vaccination certificates for India?
Some do, depending on where they are travelling from.
For example, India's High Commission in Nairobi currently requires travelers arriving from Kenya to carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before travel.
For travelers arriving from Somalia, the same mission currently requires both yellow fever and Oral Polio Vaccine certificates, with the polio vaccination administered at least four weeks before travel.
Can I use a fake ticket for an India visa?
No. A genuine provisional reservation and a fabricated flight ticket are different.
A real provisional booking exists and is accurately described as a reservation.
The booking reference, ticket number or other airline information is invented or altered.
Read Dummy Flight Ticket vs Fake Ticket for the distinction.
When can Flightika help?
If your Indian visa checklist asks for a flight reservation or air ticket reservation, Flightika lets you search real flights and create a provisional itinerary around your planned medical travel dates.
If your visa or entry route specifically requires an issued return or onward ticket, do not represent a provisional reservation as though it were a paid airline ticket.
See Do Embassies Require a Flight Reservation for a Visa?.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a dummy ticket for an India medical visa?
A genuine provisional reservation can be appropriate where the Indian mission processing your application asks for an air ticket reservation. Check your own mission's checklist because the requirement varies.
Should I buy my flight before the medical visa is approved?
Not automatically. Some Indian missions specifically accept reservations, while India's High Commission in Nigeria warns applicants against confirming travel arrangements before the visa decision.
Do I need a return ticket for an India e-Medical Visa?
India's official e-Visa rules state that international travelers should have a return ticket or onward journey ticket and sufficient funds for their stay.
What is the most important document for an India medical visa?
The hospital documentation is central. India's e-Medical application requires a letter from the hospital in India, and regular Medical Visa checklists commonly require both the Indian hospital letter and supporting medical records.
Do Kenyans need yellow fever vaccination for India?
Yes. India's High Commission in Nairobi currently says travelers arriving from Kenya must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.