{
  "id": 19522236,
  "title": "India Overhauls Visa Regime: Main Categories Cut From 13 To 9, Application Form Fields Reduced By Up To 70%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/india-overhauls-visa-regime-main-categories-cut-from-13-to-9",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T16:24:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-overhauls-visa-regime-main-categories-cut-from-13-to-9-application-form-fields-reduced-by-up-to-70"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India has streamlined its visa system by consolidating 13 primary visa categories into 9, and reducing sub-categories from 49 to 23. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is updating its IT systems to implement the changes, with visa issuance under the new framework expected by year-end. The MHA has also simplified and rationalised visa application forms across the 23 categories and sub-categories, cutting required fields by 65-70%. The revised categories include Business, Diplomatic, Work, Journalist, Medical, Official, Student, Visitor, and Miscellaneous visas.",
  "summary": "New Delhi: India has simplified its visa regime by reducing the number of main visa categories from 13 to 9, and sub-categories from 49 to 23, with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) updating its IT systems to implement the changes and visa issuance under the revised framework is expected to begin by the end of this year. The MHA has also undertaken a comprehensive exercise to simplify and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "India cuts visa categories from 13 to 9, simplifies application form",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/india-cuts-visa-categories-from-13-to-9-simplifies-application-form",
        "published": "2026-11-11T16:10:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "India simplifies visa norms; categories cut, forms to be 70% leaner",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/india-simplifies-visa-norms-categories-cut-forms-to-be-70-leaner",
        "published": "2026-11-11T16:22:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV - India News",
        "title": "India Simplifies Visa Rules For Tourism, Business, Medical Treatment: Categories Cut To 9, Forms 70% Shorter",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/india-simplifies-visa-rules-for-tourism-business-medical-treatment",
        "published": "2026-11-11T16:22:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}