Foreigners Seeking Medical Treatment in India: Visa Rules, FRRO Obligations, Hospital Standards and the June 2026 Amendments
India offers world class medical facilities at the significantly lower costs. The size of the market is growing rapidly from present USD 11 billion dollars in 2025 to projected USD 22 billion dollars by 2031. The most patients are coming from Bangladesh, Iraq, Oman, Uzbekistan, Kenya. Even the patients from USA, UK and Europe are choosing India for certain expensive procedures like for cancer treatment, liver transplants, robotic surgery. In this article, let us explore in following sequence:
- Why India as destination for medical treatments
- Cost comparison and your savings
- Available treatments
- Which hospitals/cities to choose
- Which Visa to choose and process
- Documents required
- What to do on arrival
- Extending Visa period
1. Why India as destination for medical treatments?
- Cost in India is 60 to 90% cheaper than most western countries
- Quality wise, India offers around 50 hospitals which JCI accredted. This is the gold standard in global hospital quality.
- No waiting lists. You can avail most treatment in few days of your arrival.
- English language is the language of medicine in India and all accredited hospitals have international patient coordinators who speak in English.
- 160 + countries are eligible for medical e-visa
Considering the above pointers, you can yourselves get a picture of India offering quality medical treatment at affordable and convenient manner.
2. Cost comparison and your savings:
You will be amazed by India’s cost advantage. Even after including travelling, stay and other costs, the surgery cost is significantly lower. Look at the chart below and compare yourselves.
| Procedure | India (USD) | USA (USD) | UK (USD) |
| Heart Bypass (CABG) | 6,000 – 8,000 | ~1,20,000 | ~30,000 |
| Total Knee Replacement | 3,600 – 6,000 | ~40,000 | ~20,000 |
| Liver Transplant | 30,000 – 50,000 | ~3,00,000 | ~1,50,000 |
| IVF / Fertility Treatment | 2,500 – 5,000 | ~20,000 | ~8,000 |
| Spinal Surgery | 5,000 – 9,000 | ~80,000 | ~25,000 |
| Cancer (Chemotherapy cycle) | 1,000 – 2,500 | ~10,000+ | ~5,000+ |
| Hip Replacement | 5,000 – 7,000 | ~40,000 | ~18,000 |
| Dental Implant (per tooth) | 600 – 1,200 | ~3,000 | ~2,000 |
These prices are for NABH-accredited and JCI-accredited hospitals — the best hospitals in India. The savings come from lower operational costs and a favourable exchange rate.
3. Available Treatments: India offers truly amazing range of treatments
- Heart and cardiac care including bypass surgery, valve replacement, angioplasty, pacemaker insertion etc.
- Bones and joints replacements
- Cancer care including chemotherapy, radiation, proton beam therapy, bone marrow transplants.
- Transplants of kidney, liver, cornea, bone marrow and others
- Wellness and Ayush include Ayurveda, Yoga, Panchkarma, Naturopathy.
- Dental and cosmetic include dental transplants, hair transplants, IVF and fertility treatments, cosmetic treatments. Please note that surrogacy is not allowed for foreign nationals in India.
4. Which city or hospitals to choose? It depends on your requirement and treatments: You may choose from the following:
- New Delhi and NCR have the best hospitals like AIIMS (govt), Apollo, Fortis, Medanta and others. They are renowned for heart surgery, cancer treatment or organ transplants.
- Chennai has very good hospitals like Apollo, MIOT Intl, Sri Ramchandra and others. They are very good for cardiac surgery, cochlear implants, eye care , bone marrow transplants.
- Mumbai has Kokilaben Hospital, Lilavati, Tata Memorial. They are specialists in liver transplants, cancer and robotic surgery.
- Bengaluru has Manipal Hospitals, Narayana Health and Others. You can choose for IVF, fertility, robotic surgery, neurosciences.
- Hyderabad has excellent facilities for eye care, kidney transplants, orthopaedics, ENT. Care Hospitals, Yashoda, and Apollo Hyderabad.
- Keralam for Ayurveda, wellness and traditional healing.
Before choosing any hospital, please verify hospital’s accreditation on NABH or JCI website: www.nabh.co | www.jointcommissioninternational.org
5. Which Visa to choose and the process:
You can choose a Tourist Visa for short consultation or general health check up. But for major surgery or in-patient hospital admission, choose a Medical Visa. Incorrect category may land you in legal trouble. Please follow the steps:
- Choose your hospital from India’s official Medical Value Travel portal at medicaltourism.gov.in or the websites for NABH or JCI hospitals. Give complete details and medical documents to the hospital. Ask for a remote pre-consultation and written cost estimate.
- Obtain Hospital Invitation Letter or Appendix II format with complete details. This letter is key to obtain Visa
- Apply of Medical e-visa from indianvisaobline.gov.in before 25-30 days of travel for patient and MX visa for attendant
- File the e-Arrival Card before 72 hours of boarding flight to India on official portal or Air Suvidha platform.
- Come to India: Carry all original documents, at immigration check the duration of your stay.
- In Hospital: Always ask for written cost estimate and signed consent before any procedure begins.
6. Documents:
Before you travel, carry these documents
- Valid Passport (6+ months validity)
- Medical Visa approval (e-Visa printout or sticker)
- e-Arrival Card confirmation printout
- Hospital Invitation Letter (original or digital copy)
- Medical records from your home doctor
- Recent photographs (passport size)
The following documents are also recommended for you
- Proof of funds (bank statement or card)
- Travel & medical insurance document
- Return / onward flight ticket
- Prescription for all medicines you are carrying
- Implant/device certificates (if applicable)
- Attendant’s MX Visa + same documents above
7. What to do on arrival at Indian airport:
- At immigration: Show passport, visa & e-Arrival Card. Officer may ask your treatment purpose — have Invitation Letter handy. Check your entry stamp date!
- At customs: Declare all medicines and medical devices. Carry doctor’s prescriptions. Large equipment (oxygen concentrators) needs prior approval.
- At the hospital: Go to the International Patient Services desk. Show all documents. You’ll get an English-speaking coordinator. Ask for a written cost estimate before any procedure.
- For payments: Most top hospitals accept international cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex). Always get an itemized bill — important for insurance reimbursement.
8. Extending Visa period: In case, you require to stay for more than the Medical Visa period, you need to file at e-FRRO portal at indianfrro.gov.in along with the medical certificate. Apply for visa extension well before 180 days. This is the changed rule in June 2026.
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In case you are planning to come to India for medical treatment and you have any query and concern, you may like to reach me: Abhinarayan Mishra, FCA, FCS, IP, RV; Partner, KPAM & Associates, Chartered Accountants, Dwarka, New Delhi; +91 9910744992, ca.abhimishra@gmail.com; @crossbordertaxindia; www.crossbordertaxindia.com
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