The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday introduced two special category visas for international students intending to pursue higher education in the country. Students using any of the two visas, the ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x’ visa will have to use the ‘Study in India’ (SII) portal launched by the government.

Eligible international students registered on the Study in India (SII) portal can access the e-student visa facility, while dependents of e-student visa holders are eligible for the e-student-x visa, officials stated.

The SII portal streamlines the admission process for foreign students seeking to enrol in long-term or short-term courses in the country. To obtain a visa, students must apply through the portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in, where the SII ID will verify the authenticity of their applications.

Officials emphasised that applying to Indian higher education institutions through the SII website is mandatory. Students may proceed with their visa applications only after receiving an admission offer from one of SII’s partner institutions.

Foreign nationals admitted to full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, or other formal programs at recognised educational institutions in India are eligible for e-student visas. These visas are issued for durations of up to five years, depending on the course length, and can be extended. Holders of valid e-student visas can enter India through any immigration check post.

The SII is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Education, hosting over 600 partner institutions offering more than 8,000 courses across disciplines such as engineering, management, agriculture, sciences, arts, humanities, law, paramedical sciences (including pharmacy and nursing), and specialised fields like Buddhist Studies and Yoga.

Programmes are available at undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and certification levels, providing flexibility for students to choose courses aligned with their interests at premier Indian institutions.