India plans to make its visa application forms much shorter. A senior official told The Hindu that the government will remove redundant fields and bring the forms in line with global standards, with changes likely from next year. The India visa form simplification is expected to cut the number of fields by about 70% across all 22 visa categories.
The move is part of a push to bring foreign visitors back to pre-pandemic levels, a target India has not yet met. It follows requests from the travel and tourism industry, and several meetings convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs to liberalise the visa regime.
Quick Highlights : India Visa Form Simplification
- The India visa form simplification aims to cut the number of fields by about 70% across all 22 visa categories
- Changes are likely to be implemented from next year, according to officials
- The “district” field will be dropped because it has no global equivalent
- The requirement to give a “local address” is to be loosened so tourists can list a hotel or guest house
- An e-visa application now runs to nine pages
- The industry wants a uniform 120-day application window and e-visas for Chinese travellers
- Foreign tourist arrivals in 2025 were 91.5 lakh, below the 1.093 crore of 2019
What the Government Plans
A senior official said the visa forms will be made simpler and more user-friendly in the coming days. The changes will apply to all 22 visa categories, in line with global standards. “The forms will be leaner and the number of fields will be reduced by approximately 70%,” the official said.
Another official said the forms are being designed to remove repetitive fields. The Ministry of Home Affairs has convened several meetings to liberalise the visa regime further. The India visa form simplification is a design change to the application process, not a change to who is eligible for a visa.
Why the Forms Are Being Changed
Indian visa forms have long been criticised as bulky. An e-visa application currently runs to nine pages and asks applicants whether they have ever been involved in cybercrime, terrorist activities, sabotage, espionage, genocide, political killing, or other acts of violence, among many other questions.
Repeated or irrelevant questions slow applicants down and can lead to errors, which in turn can lead to delays or rejections. A shorter form is expected to reduce mistakes and make the process less off-putting, which is one aim of the India visa form simplification.
Fields Likely to Go
Officials gave two examples of the changes. The “district” field will be dropped, because there is no global equivalent and many foreign visitors cannot answer it. The requirement to provide a “local address” in India is also to be liberalised, so a tourist could give the address of the hotel or guest house where they will stay.
These changes address common sticking points. A visitor who has not yet booked a stay, or who is travelling through several places, often has trouble completing the local address field accurately.
Where Tourism Stands
The travel industry has been pressing the government to help restore foreign tourist numbers. According to the Ministry of Tourism, foreign tourist arrivals in 2019, before the pandemic, were 1.093 crore, or 10.93 million. In 2023 the number was 95 lakh, in 2024 about 99 lakh, and in 2025 it was 91.5 lakh.
| Year | Foreign Tourist Arrivals |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.093 crore |
| 2023 | 95 lakh |
| 2024 | About 99 lakh |
| 2025 | 91.5 lakh |
The 2025 figure is below both 2024 and 2023, which helps explain why the government is looking at the India visa form simplification as a way to encourage visitors.
The E-Visa System Today
India offers an e-visa, preceded by an electronic travel authorisation, under nine sub-categories, according to The Hindu: e-Tourist (30 days, one year, or five years), e-Business, e-Medical, e-Student, e-Transit, e-Film, e-Miscellaneous, e-Entry, and e-Production Investment.
The Hindu says the e-visa is available to 147 countries, with a 30-day application window for some. Ministry-linked figures put the number higher, at 172 to 175 countries. China is a notable exclusion, along with Pakistan and Afghanistan. Reporting also says about 95% of e-visa applications are processed in under 72 hours and that around 78% of visas India issues are now electronic.
What the Industry Wants
A tourism industry official, who asked not to be named, said the sector has urged the government to apply the 120-day application window uniformly to all countries. At present the window for some countries is only 30 days, which can be too short for travellers who plan ahead.
The industry has also asked for e-visas to be allowed for Chinese travellers, a change that would be significant for tourism numbers but also involves security and diplomatic questions. The India visa form simplification does not by itself change either of these rules.
Permits for Restricted Areas
The industry is pushing for Protected Area Permits and Restricted Area Permits to be issued at the same time as the visa. Under the current system, travellers who want to visit sensitive regions often apply after they arrive in India.
Foreigners need a permit to visit Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and certain parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. Issuing the permit with the visa would simplify planning for visitors to these regions. It remains a request, not a decision.
Foreign-Language Forms
An industry official said the sector has also asked for visa forms to be available in languages other than English, including Spanish, German, and Italian. The aim is to make it easier for visitors from those countries to apply and to bring in more tourists.
The government has not confirmed multilingual forms. If adopted, they would be part of a broader redesign, alongside the India visa form simplification.
What Has Already Changed
India has been adjusting its visa system through 2026. In June, the Ministry of Home Affairs updated its Visa Manual to remove a duplicate clearance step for foreign nationals already cleared through its Security Clearance Portal, and to cover extensions, conversions, and multiple entries on various e-visas. Since April 1, 2026, travellers have also had to complete a digital e-Arrival Card before arriving.
These measures show a pattern of tighter data capture at the border and, at the same time, a push to cut paperwork at the application stage.
What Travellers Should Know
Nothing has changed yet. Visitors should continue to use the current forms and follow existing rules until the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration announce the new ones. The official site for Indian e-visas is the only place to apply, and unofficial websites that charge extra fees should be avoided.
When the new forms are introduced, applicants should check whether any requirements for supporting documents or photos have changed, since a shorter form does not necessarily mean fewer documents.
What to Watch Next
Several details are not yet public. The government has not given an exact date for the new forms, has not published a draft of the redesigned form, and has not said whether any new questions will be added. It is also unclear whether the 120-day window, e-visas for Chinese travellers, or simultaneous permits for restricted areas will be adopted.
An official announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Bureau of Immigration is expected before the changes are introduced.
Key Takeaways On India Visa Form Simplification
The India visa form simplification is planned to cut about 70% of the fields across all 22 visa categories, drop the “district” field, and loosen the local address requirement so tourists can list a hotel. Changes are likely from next year, and the tourism industry is also asking for a uniform 120-day window, e-visas for Chinese travellers, simultaneous restricted-area permits, and forms in more languages. Until official notices appear, applicants should keep using the existing forms.
FAQs : India Visa Form Simplification
When will the new Indian visa forms be introduced?
Officials say the changes are likely from next year, but no exact date has been announced.
How much shorter will the forms be?
Officials say the number of fields will be reduced by approximately 70% across all 22 visa categories.
What fields are being removed under India Visa Form Simplification?
The “district” field will go, and the “local address” requirement will be liberalised so tourists can give a hotel or guest house address.
Will Chinese citizens be able to use e-visas?
The industry has asked for this, but the government has not announced any change.
Do I need to do anything now?
No. Continue using the existing forms until official notices announce the new process.
Source : The Hindu
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