India launches 2 new e-Student visa categories to attract international students for higher education

The e-student-x visa is designed for the dependents of those holding the e-student visa.

India has launched two new visa categories, the ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x visa,’ aimed at facilitating international students pursuing higher education in the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced these special visas to streamline the application process, with all applicants required to use the government’s ‘Study in India’ (SII) portal.

The e-student visa is available to foreign students who are registered on the SII portal and have received admission to one of India’s recognized higher educational institutions. The e-student-x visa is designed for the dependents of those holding the e-student visa.

The SII portal simplifies the admission process for international students interested in long-term or short-term academic courses. Students must apply for a visa through the Indian visa portal (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/), but the SII portal will verify the authenticity of their application using the SII ID. It is mandatory for students to apply to Indian institutes through the SII portal for visa processing.

Once accepted by a partner institution on the SII portal, students can apply for an e-student visa, which is granted for the duration of their course, whether at the undergraduate, post-graduate, or doctoral level. The visa is valid for up to five years, depending on the course, and may be extended within India.

The e-student visa allows holders to enter India through any immigration checkpoint, making it more accessible for international students.

The ‘Study in India’ initiative, a flagship project of the Ministry of Education, includes over 600 partner institutes offering more than 8,000 courses across various fields, such as engineering, management, sciences, law, agriculture, and humanities. Students have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of disciplines and study in top-tier Indian institutions.

The SII portal’s streamlined application process enables students to register and submit their application online. To begin, prospective students must create a unique SII ID, which is necessary to track the progress of their applications, college admissions, visa processes, and other related procedures.

(With inputs from PTI)