A foreign patient who comes to India for treatment usually needs someone with them, and that person needs their own visa. This guide covers the medical attendant visa India offers, as the official e-Visa portal and three hospitals describe it: how many attendants you can bring, when to apply, what the validity is, and the questions the portal leaves unanswered.
General information, not medical or legal advice. Visa rules change. We read the e-Visa portal and the hospital pages on 23 October 2026. Check your own country’s route and your approval before you travel.
Table of Contents
What the medical attendant visa is
On the e-Visa portal the visa is called the e-Medical Attendant visa. Its listed purpose is to travel as an attendant to an e-Medical visa holder. It is a separate visa from the patient’s: each attendant applies in their own name. For the patient’s side, read our Indian medical visa guide.
Medical attendant visa India: how many attendants can come
The portal says only two e-Medical Attendant visas will be granted against one e-Medical visa, so a patient can bring at most two attendants on this route. Tata Memorial says the same for its patients and adds that an international patient must be accompanied by an attendant.
When and how to apply
The portal says applicants from eligible countries may apply online at least four days before arrival, within a window of 120 days. The only document the portal’s page lists is a scan of the passport bio page showing the photograph and details. The fee table is the same one that covers the e-Medical visa, and our Indian medical visa guide sets out the figures and the points the extract does not state.
How long it is valid
The portal gives two answers. The visa listing says one year (365 days) from the date of arrival in India, with multiple entries. The portal’s FAQ says 60 days from the date of first arrival in India, with multiple entries allowed within the validity stamped on the passport. It does not say which applies. Read the validity on your own approval, and plan the stay around that document, not either figure.
What the portal does not say
- Who may be an attendant. The page lists no relationship rule. Your hospital or the Indian mission may ask for more, so check with both.
- Whether the attendant must travel with the patient. The page is silent.
- What happens to the attendant visa if the patient’s visa lapses or is cancelled. The page links the two visas but does not explain.
What three hospitals say about attendants
- Tata Memorial: an attendant is mandatory; the patient holds a Medical visa and the attendant a Medical Attendant visa; only two attendants; the invitation letter covers the patient and up to two attendants (page last updated 15 October 2026).
- NIMHANS: attendants need a valid Medical Attendant (MX) visa, and patients and attendants on M or MX visas must register with the FRRO Bangalore within 14 days of arrival. This is the hospital’s own rule, and the Ministry of External Affairs sets a different general rule that depends on the visa’s validity.
- CMC Vellore: the patient and every relative must register at the police station within 24 hours of registering at its International Relations Office (CMC’s FAQ).
For each hospital’s other steps, see the Tata Memorial international patients guide, the NIMHANS international patients guide and the CMC Vellore international patients guide. To get the hospital letter that supports the application, read how to get a medical visa invitation letter.
Medical attendant visa India: mistakes to avoid
- Applying for the patient only. Each attendant needs their own visa.
- Bringing a third attendant. The portal grants two against one patient visa.
- Trusting a validity figure from a blog. The portal itself gives two figures. Use your approval.
- Applying less than four days before arrival. Four days is the portal’s minimum.
Frequently asked questions
How many attendants can I bring on an Indian medical visa?
Two. The e-Visa portal says only two e-Medical Attendant visas are granted against one e-Medical visa.
Does an attendant need their own visa?
Yes. Tata Memorial and NIMHANS both say attendants need a Medical Attendant visa.
How long is the medical attendant visa valid?
The portal gives 365 days in its visa listing and 60 days from first arrival in its FAQ. Confirm the validity on your approval.
Who can be a medical attendant?
The e-Visa portal lists no relationship rule. Ask your hospital and the Indian mission what they require.
When should an attendant apply?
At least four days before arrival and within the 120-day window, as the portal states.
Does the invitation letter cover the attendants?
Tata Memorial’s letter covers the patient and up to two attendants. Ask your hospital about its own letter.
Sources checked
- Government of India e-Visa portal: e-Medical Attendant visa (read 23 October 2026).
- Tata Memorial Centre: International Patients (page shows last update 15 October 2026).
- NIMHANS: International Patients (no update date shown).
- CMC Vellore FAQs (no update date shown).
