Applying for a visa to visit India could become significantly less complicated in the coming months.
According to a November 3, 2026, report by Indian newspaper The Hindu, the government is working on a major overhaul of the forms foreign nationals must complete before traveling to the country.
Citing several government officials, the newspaper reported that India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has held multiple meetings to discuss further easing the country’s visa requirements.
The goal is to make applications simpler and faster to complete by eliminating much of the information considered redundant or poorly suited to international travelers.
India plans to cut visa application fields by 70%
The proposed changes could make a significant difference for travelers familiar with India’s lengthy visa application process.
According to a senior government official quoted by The Hindu, the overhaul would cover all 22 existing visa categories, reducing the number of required fields by approximately 70%.
The redesigned forms would more closely align with international standards while minimizing repetitive questions.
Currently, applying for an Indian electronic visa (e-Visa) can involve completing as many as nine pages of information.
In addition to personal details and travel plans, applicants must answer several questions about their background, including any involvement in criminal activities, terrorism, espionage, or political violence.
Authorities are primarily considering removing unnecessary administrative fields, with no changes to security screening requirements announced so far.
One proposed adjustment is the removal of the “District” field, which is considered unsuitable for applicants from countries whose administrative systems differ from India’s.
Requirements for providing a local address could also be relaxed. Tourists would find it easier to enter the address of their hotel or guesthouse in India.
According to the officials interviewed by the newspaper, the redesigned forms could be introduced in 2027, although no specific implementation date has been announced.
Tourism industry calls for further easing of e-Visa rules
India’s electronic visa system has already undergone several improvements in recent months.
Since December 18, 2025, travelers have been able to apply for a 30-day e-Tourist Visa up to 120 days before arriving in India, compared with just 30 days previously.
Another significant change took effect in June 2026, when the 30-day e-Tourist Visa began allowing multiple entries, replacing the previous two-entry limit.
Despite these improvements, India’s tourism industry is calling for additional measures to make the country more accessible to international visitors.
One key proposal is to extend e-Visa eligibility to Chinese nationals, who currently do not have access to the system.
Industry representatives are also pushing for travelers visiting certain restricted regions to be able to obtain the necessary permits alongside their visas, rather than having to complete a separate application.
These authorizations, known as Protected Area Permits (PAP) and Restricted Area Permits (RAP), are required to enter certain sensitive areas of India.
Tourism professionals are also advocating for visa application forms to be made available in additional languages, including Spanish, German, and Italian, to make the process more accessible to international visitors.
These proposals come from the tourism industry and have not, at this stage, been formally adopted by the Indian government.
Official report had already recommended visa simplification in June 2026
Efforts to simplify entry procedures for foreign visitors are not new.
In July 2026, VisasNews reported on recommendations contained in an official study published by NITI Aayog, in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Tourism.
Released on June 30, 2026, the report, titled Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector, highlighted several shortcomings in the existing e-Visa system, including overly complicated application forms, repetitive information requirements, and technical difficulties encountered on the application portal.
The report also recommended exploring the phased introduction of a 90-day, multiple-entry tourist visa on arrival for nationals of selected countries.
The latest information reported by The Hindu, however, provides additional details about the changes now under consideration, particularly the proposed 70% reduction in application fields across all 22 visa categories and a possible rollout in 2027.
These specific measures have yet to be officially confirmed by Indian authorities.
What changes for travelers applying for an Indian e-Visa right now?
For now, neither India’s Ministry of Home Affairs nor the Bureau of Immigration has officially announced any changes to visa application forms.
Travelers must therefore continue following the existing application procedures.
The official Indian Visa Online portal remains the primary platform for electronic visa applications, including those for tourism, business travel, and medical visits.
U.S., British, Canadian, or Australian passport holders generally still need to obtain a visa before traveling to India, unless they qualify for a specific exemption. In addition, foreign travelers must complete a digital arrival card (e-Arrival Card) within the 72 hours before arriving in India.
Since June 25, 2026, international passengers have also been required to complete the Air Suvidha 2.0 health declaration, which was reintroduced as part of enhanced health surveillance measures in response to the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. This requirement is separate from the e-Arrival Card and must be completed before clearing immigration.
VisasNews Take
Cutting the number of fields on India’s visa application forms by 70% could represent a significant improvement for international travelers. If implemented, the reform could substantially streamline the electronic visa application process, which has frequently drawn criticism for its length and complexity. For now, the proposed 2027 timeline is based on information obtained by The Hindu from government officials and has not been formally announced by Indian authorities. Existing visa application procedures therefore remain in effect until further notice.
