India simplifies student visas: new opportunities for international students

India continues to attract many international students who wish to continue their studies in the country. In this regard, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has announced the introduction of two new specialized visas: “electronic student visa” (e-student) and “electronic student visa-x” (e-student-x).

The e-student visa is intended for foreign nationals studying full-time at bachelor's, master's, doctoral and other academic programs. It is important to note that dependents of e-student visa holders can also obtain an e-student-x visa, which will allow them to accompany the primary visa holder throughout the academic period. These visas have a maximum validity of five years, renewable within India. Students will be able to enter through any authorized immigration check post.

Students seeking admission to universities must first register on the Study in India (SII) portal. Once registered, they will be able to apply for new e-visas. The registration process will create a unique SII ID, which will be the main identification number for visa applications. After receiving the offer of admission, students will be able to apply for the visa through the official Indian visa website. The identifier will also allow tracking the status of applications, enrollment and visa processes.

The SII program opens access to over 160 institutions in India offering over 2,600 courses in various streams. Students can also look forward to financial assistance in the form of scholarships or tuition fee waivers.

The introduction of the new e-student visas helps increase India's appeal as an international education hub and aims to simplify the higher education process for international students and their dependents.

Stay up-to-date on visa policy changes and get up-to-date travel planning advice by following the news at Visa-Navigator.com.