Medical Visa From Nigeria to India: Information Guide

Nigerian patients interested in availing medical treatment in India can file an Indian visa application. A medical visa from Nigeria to India is granted to eligible candidates after thorough evaluation and scrutiny of the official documents. You can navigate the Indian medical visa application process, eligibility requirements, and list of documents needed for approval with the aid of this informative guide from MediGence. It also provides a list of the official contact information for each step of the Indian visa application procedure, from submission to approval.

Indian Medical Visa Eligibility

Any Nigerian patient who fulfils the following criteria is eligible to apply for an Indian medical visa:

• Treatment is scheduled to be carried out a reputed, certified, and recognized hospital or medical center.
• The sole purpose of travel to India is medical treatment and nothing else.
• No more than relatives or friends are willing to accompany the patient under separate medical attendant visas.
• All previous medical records and reports indicating a history of diagnosis and treatment conducted by a reputed hospital in Nigeria are available for submission at the time of visa application.
• A certified and experienced doctor has issued a letter recommending treatment in India.

List of Needed Documents

Patients planning to apply for a medical visa from Nigeria to India must submit the following documents at the time of application submission at the Consulate:

• Original passport with at least six months validity
• Original confirmed return air ticket
• A copy of the Indian medical visa application form submitted online with signatures on Page 1 and Page 2
• Two passport-sized photographs are affixed on Page 1 and Page 2 of the hard copy of the duly-filled application form
• A letter detailing a history of previous trips to India and the duration of stay, if applicable
• A letter detailing your purpose of visit and your present occupation in Nigeria
• A copy of your curriculum vitae or biodata
• A duly stamped and signed referral letter from the examining hospital in Nigeria detailing the nature of the ailment, the recommended treatment and the reason for referral
• Copies of all treatment records carried out at the concerned hospital in Nigeria
• A copy of a duly signed and stamped visa invitation and admission letter from the hospital of interest in India detailing the treatment details and start and end dates of treatment
• A valid local address proof (utility bills, driver's license, mobile bills, etc.)
• Three-month bank statement and a letter from the bank approving the patient's financial capacity to bear the treatment expenses in India
• An affidavit from the sponsor (in case of a sponsored trip)
• Document furnishing a proof of relationship with the attendant(s)
• A certificate from the hospital detailing the availability of treatment in India and the patient's condition, and medical needs

Mode of Application: A patient can apply for a medical visa from Nigeria to India through the following two modes of application:

• Online Indian visa application
• Physical submission of the Indian medical visa application form

An application for an Indian visa must still be submitted in person at the Indian consulate counter, even though it can be made online through the Indian government portal.

Indian Visa Application Procedure

Steps to online Indian visa application submission:

• Visit Indian Visa Online (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/).
• Click Regular Visa Application.
• Fill in the required details and the access code before clicking Continue.
• Fill in the passport details.
• Click Save and Continue.
• Fill in the details about the visa needed and other information.
• Provide reference details (if applicable).
• Click Save and Continue.
• Review all the details and edit, if necessary.
• If the data is correct, click Verified.
• Read the instructions on the page and press OK for registration.
• Select an appointment date suitable to you and Confirm the Appointment for a face-to-face meeting at the Indian Consulate.
• Save the final application.
• Print a copy of the application for submission at the Consulate.

All online application forms for an Indian medical visa must be submitted as a hard copy along with the relevant documents and the mandatory visa application fees in person at the visa application counter of the Indian Embassy.

Steps to physical (in-person) Indian visa application submission:

• Visit the Embassy of India in Abuja/Lagos, Nigeria.
• Secure an Indian medical visa application form at the designated counter.
• Once you have attached a current photo to the two pages, fill in all the necessary information and sign the completed form.
• Submit the duly filled form along with a copy of the required documents at the counter.
• Pay in cash the mandatory Indian medical visa fees along with the documents.

Visa Fees For Nigeria Nationals

The Indian medical visa processing fee varies from one country to another and depends on the duration of the visa. A medical visa is approved for either 6 months or 12 months, depending on the duration of the medical treatment in India. The 6-month or 12-month visa fees are payable at the time of submission of a printed copy of the Indian visa application form and required documents. The Indian medical visa fee for a Nigerian patient is as follows:

The visa fee applicable at the time of an Indian visa application for a medical attendant is separate from that of the patient. However, visa fees are the same for the specified duration.

Indian Medical Visa Processing Time

For Nigerians: It may take up to two working days for the Indian visa application to be processed by the Indian Consulate.

For foreign nationals in Nigeria: Patients initially from other countries staying in Nigeria may have to wait a few more days until the Indian embassy in their respective country approves their Indian medical visa application.

Important Contacts - Indian Embassies in Nigeria

There are two Indian Consulates in Nigeria – one in Lagos and the other in Abuja – that accept and process Indian visa applications. They can guide you in case you have any queries regarding the Indian medical visa eligibility, process, fees, and application procedure.

The time for submission of Indian medical visa applications at the Indian consulate is from 1000 hours to 1200 hours on all working days.

Visa Extension Services For Nigerian Patients

The Indian medical visa extension is a separate procedure, which is taken care of by the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) located in different Indian cities. Indian medical visa extension is granted when it is taking longer to complete the treatment or when the patient has another set of treatments to undergo. To apply for the Indian medical visa extension, the patient first has to get an official written document from the concerned hospital authorities suggesting the reason for the extension and the period of extension required. This letter, along with the following documents, needs to be submitted to the concerned FRRO for visa extension approval:

• Passport-size photo of the applicant
• Copy of the passport page showing the photo of the holder
• Copy of the passport page showing validity
• Copy of the passport page with immigration stamp
• Visa with endorsement
• Copy of the lease agreement if staying in a rented accommodation
• Copy of the utility bill of the landlord if staying at a friend’s place

The medical visa is extended as soon as all the documents are verified, which typically takes a few days.

Important Contacts - FRRO in India

There are more than 12 FRROs in India, located in different cities. They are responsible for handling registration, movement, departure, and stay of tourists from abroad, including Indian medical visa holders. Patients travelling on a medical visa from Nigeria to India should get themselves registered at the nearest FRRO within 14 days of their arrival. A request for an Indian medical visa extension or renewal must be made to the nearest FRRO. The following table provides details of the FRROs in India.

Things to Remember

Patients applying for a medical visa from Nigeria to India must keep in mind a few important things. These include the following:  

• Indian medical visa extended or renewed by the FRRO allows just three entries in a year. The FRRO may allow an additional entry in case of emergencies upon special request.
• Medical tourists from Nigeria are only granted temporary immigration service through 'M' visa. Therefore, patients applying for a medical visa from Nigeria to India must file an 'M' visa application.
• Following guidelines from the Indian government, patients from Nigeria are required to present their Yellow Fever vaccination certificate when submitting their documentation at the Indian embassy located in Nigeria. Infants younger than six months do not need to do this.
• Submission and possession of an Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) Certificate are mandatory for all Nigerians – adults and children – as per the government directives. The certificate should be valid for at least a year.
• Medical tourists from Nigeria must possess a written record of vaccination for polio and submit a copy of it along with the relevant documents at the time of visa application.
• Suppose officials at the Indian Consulate in Nigeria determine that an application for an Indian medical visa is not authentic or are dissatisfied with the supporting documentation. In that case, they reserve the authority to reject the application.
• Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan citizens staying in Nigeria have to secure a special visa application form from the Indian consulate in Nigeria to apply for a medical visa from Nigeria to India.

Seek Help From MediGence

Patients interested in applying for a medical visa from Nigeria to India can contact MediGence for assistance with the Indian visa application procedure and approval. MediGence offers around-the-clock assistance to medical tourists from Nigeria and other countries and helps them plan their medical trip to India. For any query related to the Indian visa application procedure or assistance with planning your medical trip to India, reach us at: MediGence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can I apply for a medical visa from Nigeria to India for treatment of any ailment?

Answer: Even though patients can undergo any type of treatment in India, Indian visa application from patients with serious ailments are given preference for approval by the Indian consulate over other non-serious ailments. The list of serious illnesses typically includes those related to the heart or other vital organs and congenital disorders. Organ transplantation, cancer treatment, gene therapy, joint replacement, plastic surgery, and neurosurgery are given preference for Indian medical visa approval over other non-serious procedures. However, the list mentioned here is not an exhaustive list and you must check with the consulate of India in Nigeria for specific details.

Question: What is a visa invitation letter? Is it mandatory to seek Indian medical visa approval?

Answer: A visa invitation letter is mandatory for all patients who are planning to undergo treatment at a reputed medical institution or a hospital in India. The submission of a copy of the invitation letter is required while filing an Indian visa application. A visa invitation letter is official proof that the patient has indeed contacted the concerned hospital in India upon being referred by the local doctor or hospital. It also described other details such as the duration and type of treatment, the treatment procedure, and the characteristics of the ailment that the patient is suffering from.

Question: What happens if I stay in India beyond visa validity?

Answer: If you need to extend your duration of stay in India for medical reasons, then you must apply for a visa extension or renewal by getting in touch with the nearest FRRO. A patient staying in India beyond visa validity may face several penalties and, in worst cases, detention. Therefore, you either leave India before the expiry if your medical visa from Nigeria to India or get it extended well before time.

Question: Do all Indian medical visa applications receive approval from the Indian embassy?

Answer: At the time of verification of documents, the Indian Consulate may check for the urgency of treatment before approving the Indian visa application. They may approve, reject, or put the application on hold for valid reasons. Not all Indian medical visa applications are approved, and not all patients can enter India despite holding a valid visa. The validity of the documents is checked upon arrival, after which patients are allowed to approach the hospital.