If you are planning to travel to India for Ayurveda or naturopathy treatment, one of the first questions you will run into is the visa. Not a tourist visa. Not a medical visa in the conventional sense. A category called the AYUSH visa, introduced in July 2023 specifically for people coming to India for traditional and holistic systems of medicine.
At Kanasu, we get this question often enough that it made sense to write it down properly, so guests planning a longer stay for Panchakarma or a structured wellness programme know exactly what to expect before they book a ticket.
What the AYUSH visa actually is
AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. It is India's way of formally recognising that people travel here not just for hospitals and surgeries, but for these traditional systems of healing. Before this category existed, most international guests came in on a regular tourist visa, which technically was never built for extended treatment stays.
The AYUSH visa changes that. It allows a longer, purpose built stay for people who are coming specifically to receive treatment at a recognised Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, or allied wellness centre in India, and it can also be extended to one attendant accompanying the patient.
Who is eligible
Broadly, the visa is meant for guests who are coming to India for treatment at institutions that are registered and recognised for offering these therapies. This includes established Ayurveda hospitals and wellness centres that meet the government's criteria, which is one of the reasons it matters where you choose to be treated. A centre needs to be positioned correctly within this framework for your visa application to go through smoothly.
If you are coming purely for a leisure yoga retreat with no clinical treatment component, a standard tourist visa is usually sufficient. The AYUSH visa is specifically for treatment focused stays, particularly longer Panchakarma programmes, structured detox protocols, or physician supervised therapeutic courses.
What you will need
While requirements can shift, guests typically need to prepare the following before applying.
A letter of invitation or recommendation from the treating institution, confirming the nature of the programme and its expected duration. A brief medical or wellness assessment, sometimes done through an initial consultation, so the centre can confirm the treatment plan matches what is being declared on the visa application. Standard visa documentation, including passport details, photographs, and the applicable visa fee. Proof of the treatment duration, since the visa's length is generally tied to how long the programme is expected to run.
At Kanasu, our team prepares the invitation and supporting documentation directly with guests once a treatment plan has been discussed with our physicians. This is usually one of the first things we sort out after an initial consultation, well before travel dates are finalised.
How long can you stay
This depends on the treatment plan itself. A short Panchakarma programme of one or two weeks will have a correspondingly short visa duration, while a more extensive Rasayana or longevity focused programme running several weeks will need a longer stay approved. This is precisely why the documentation from the treating centre matters so much. It is the basis on which the length of your visa is decided.
A practical note before you apply
Because this is still a relatively newer visa category, processes can vary depending on which Indian mission you are applying through. Our recommendation to every international guest is simple. Confirm your treatment plan and expected duration with us first, get the supporting letter in hand, and then begin your visa application with that documentation ready. It saves guests from the back and forth of amending applications midway.
If you are considering a Panchakarma or longevity programme at Kanasu and want to understand how the visa process fits around your treatment plan, reach out to our team. We will walk you through the paperwork alongside the clinical planning, so the two move together rather than one holding up the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AYUSH Visa?
A dedicated visa category introduced in July 2023 for international visitors coming to India specifically for Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, and allied traditional medicine treatment.
Is a tourist visa enough for an Ayurveda visit?
For short leisure visits with no clinical treatment, yes. For longer Panchakarma or physician-supervised programmes, the AYUSH Visa is the appropriate category.
Can my companion travel with me?
Yes. The AYUSH Visa can be extended to one attendant accompanying the patient.
How long can I stay?
The duration is tied to your treatment plan. A two-week programme gets a shorter stay approved. A longer Rasayana programme requires a longer duration confirmed in your documentation.
What documents do I need?
An invitation letter from the treating centre, a brief medical assessment, standard visa documents, and proof of treatment duration. Requirements vary by Indian mission so verify locally.
Does Kanasu help with the documentation?
Yes. Once your treatment plan is confirmed with our physicians, we prepare the invitation letter and supporting documents before you begin your visa application.
