Short answer. Is a medical visa mandatory for donor egg treatment in India? It depends on your passport. Indian citizens, including NRIs who travel on an Indian passport, need no visa. An OCI card works as a lifelong visa, so OCI card holders need no visa. Most foreign nationals need a medical visa. Zoi Fertility is a clinic registered on the Government of India’s FRRO Medical and Ayush Visa Portal. Once you decide to come and your treatment plan starts, we file the medical visa invitation letter request on your behalf. The request goes to the Indian consulate in your country. When you apply for your medical visa, you quote the reference of that request in your application form. Because the clinic is separately registered and authenticated with the FRRO under the Ministry of Home Affairs, your application is backed by a verified clinic reference, which helps the visa move faster. You come to India after the visa is issued.
Read how an Indian egg donor is supplied through a registered ART Bank.
Who needs a medical visa
| Your passport | Medical visa needed? |
|---|---|
| Indian citizen living in India | No |
| NRI travelling on an Indian passport | No |
| OCI card holder | No |
| Foreign national | Yes, for most nationalities |
Foreign nationals may have ART in India, subject to eligibility (Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health Research), File No. I.11019/37/2023-HR dated 9 Mar 2023, Q1). The visa is a separate step under the Indian visa rules, so check the current rules for your country with the Indian consulate.
How the process works for foreign nationals
- Register with us and start your treatment plan. The coordinator and the Medical Director confirm your plan after a video consultation.
- We file the invitation letter request. Zoi Fertility is registered with the FRRO and has a login on the Medical and Ayush Visa Portal. We fill in the request for a medical visa invitation letter on your behalf, with your details. The request is sent to the Indian consulate in your country.
- You apply for your medical visa. You fill in the visa application form and give the reference of our request in it. Because the clinic is separately registered and authenticated with the FRRO under the Ministry of Home Affairs, your application is backed by a verified clinic reference, which helps the visa move faster. We guide you on any documents the consulate asks for.
- You travel to India. Treatment takes place in Mumbai at our registered Level 2 ART clinic.
- Your companion. A partner or relative who travels with you applies as a medical attendant. Check how many attendants the visa allows.
- FRRO registration in India. Foreign nationals register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) when the visa rules require it. Our team helps you.
Donor eggs cannot be sent abroad (Act s.29), so parents travel for treatment. Our post “Can foreigners and NRIs use donor eggs in India?” explains why.
What to keep ready
- A valid passport.
- The documents the clinic lists for your case.
- Your treatment plan from the Medical Director.
The clinic confirms the list at your first consultation.
Contact the ART Bank · International patients · Read the full law guide
Questions
Is a medical visa mandatory for donor egg treatment in India?
For most foreign nationals, yes. Indian citizens and OCI card holders need no visa.
Do NRIs need a medical visa?
No, if they travel on an Indian passport. An NRI who holds a foreign passport is a foreign national for this purpose unless they hold an OCI card.
Do OCI card holders need a medical visa?
No. An OCI card holder travels without a visa.
Who files the invitation letter request?
We do. Zoi Fertility is registered with the FRRO and files the request for a medical visa invitation letter on your behalf. It goes to the Indian consulate in your country, and you quote its reference when you apply for your visa.
Does this make the visa faster?
Yes. Zoi Fertility is separately registered and authenticated with the FRRO under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and your visa application carries the reference of our request. This helps the visa move faster.
Does my partner need a visa too?
A partner or relative who travels with you applies as a medical attendant.
References
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (Act No. 42 of 2021): section 29.
- Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health Research): File No. I.11019/37/2023-HR dated 9 Mar 2023.
This page explains the law as published. It is not legal advice. Visa rules are set by the Government of India and can change, so confirm them with the Indian consulate for your country.
