India has updated its visa system in a bid to attract more tourists, students, foreign patients and business travellers.
The country’s Ministry of Home Affairs has cut the number of main visa categories from 13 to nine, and subcategories from 49 to 23, Bloomberg reports.
In addition, the authorities have shortened the application form, reducing the number of mandatory fields by 65–70%.
The government has also removed duplication between different visa types and made the system clearer for travellers. The authorities expect these changes to speed up application processing, reduce confusion when choosing a visa category and increase the inflow of foreign visitors.
The update comes amid India’s growing popularity as a tourist destination, as well as a hub for affordable healthcare and education. Overall, the country aims to make visa procedures more convenient and strengthen economic ties with the world.