New Delhi, Jan 5: India has launched two special category visas for international students aiming to pursue higher education in the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced the ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x visa,’ which will be available to applicants through the government’s ‘Study in India’ (SII) portal.
The e-student visa is for eligible foreign students who register on the SII portal, while the e-student-x visa is designed for the dependents of e-student visa holders. The SII portal streamlines the admission process for international students wishing to pursue long-term or short-term courses in India.
Students must apply for their visa through the portal (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/), where their application’s authenticity will be verified using their SII ID. Applicants must first apply to Indian higher educational institutions through the SII website and can submit their visa applications after receiving an admission offer letter from one of the SII’s partner institutes.
The e-student visa is available to foreign nationals admitted to full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD programs at educational institutes recognized by India’s statutory bodies. These visas can be issued for up to five years, depending on the course’s duration, and may be extended within India. Visa holders can enter the country via any immigration check post.
The SII initiative, supported by the Ministry of Education, offers international students access to more than 8,000 courses in various fields, including engineering, management, agriculture, law, and yoga, across 600+ partner institutes. The portal simplifies the application process, allowing students to register, apply for courses, track their progress, and manage visa-related procedures through their unique SII ID.
Without an SII ID, students cannot proceed with their applications, making it a critical requirement for those seeking higher education in India.
