The Visa and Logistics Guide for Americans and Canadians Traveling to Kerala for Medical Treatment

Americans and Canadians heading to Kerala for surgery or wellness treatment need an Indian e-Medical Visa, not a tourist visa, plus a separate Medical Attendant visa for any companion. The e-Medical Visa is applied for online, is typically valid 60 days with triple entry, and should be started two to three months before travel to leave room for hospital paperwork and FRRO registration after arrival.

Which Visa You Actually Need

Visa type: e-Medical Visa (not e-Tourist or standard Medical Visa) · Validity: up to 60 days, triple entry.

Patients travel on India's official e-Visa portal under the e-Medical category, applying at least four days before arrival and up to 120 days ahead; most applications are processed within about 72 hours. Entry and exit are only permitted through designated international airports, and Kerala's Kochi (COK) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) airports are both on that list.

Documents Your Kerala Hospital Needs to Provide First

Core requirement: a hospital invitation letter on official letterhead · Also needed: a Medical Reference Number from the FRRO portal.

Before applying, patients need a signed letter from the treating Kerala hospital confirming the admission date, procedure, and estimated length of stay, plus the hospital's NABH or JCI accreditation number. Applicants also need a Medical Reference Number generated through the government's FRRO system before the e-Visa can be submitted, so this step has to start with the hospital's international patient desk, not the visa application itself.

Bringing a Caregiver: The Medical Attendant Visa

Attendants allowed: up to two per patient · Requirement: must be blood relatives.

A companion cannot apply independently — the Medical Attendant e-Visa only issues once the patient's own e-Medical Visa is approved, and a maximum of two attendants, who must be blood relatives of the patient, are permitted. Both the patient's and each attendant's passport numbers must be listed on the hospital's invitation letter for the applications to be linked correctly.

Registering With the FRRO After You Land

Deadline: within 14 days of arrival · Where: online via e-FRRO, or in person in Kerala.

Patients and attendants on medical visas must register with India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office within 14 days of arrival, a step separate from the visa itself. Kerala's FRRO registration can largely be completed online through the e-FRRO portal, requiring the passport, visa copy, passport photos, and a Kerala address such as the hospital's guesthouse or a nearby hotel.

Getting From the Airport to the Hospital

Best gateway for most hospitals: Kochi (COK), which handles the most international connections.

Kochi has nonstop connections to roughly 31 destinations, mostly hubs in the Middle East such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, meaning travelers from the US or Canada typically connect once through a Gulf or European hub rather than flying direct. Most JCI- and NABH-accredited hospitals, including major centers serving international patients, run their own airport pickup service for confirmed patients, which is worth confirming with the hospital's international desk before booking a separate taxi. Many patients extend their stay afterward at hotels built around Kerala's hospital corridors for recovery before flying home.

When to Start the Process

Recommended lead time: two to three months before travel.

Between getting a treatment plan and cost estimate from the hospital, receiving the invitation letter, generating the Medical Reference Number, and waiting on visa processing, most medical tourism facilitators recommend starting two to three months ahead of the planned procedure. That buffer also gives time to compare hospital wait times, which can vary significantly by specialty — see our breakdown of Kerala surgery wait times versus the US and Canada for specific procedures.

People Also Ask

Can Americans use a regular tourist e-Visa for medical treatment in Kerala?
No. India requires the specific e-Medical Visa category for treatment at a recognized hospital; a tourist visa does not permit hospital admission or medical procedures and can lead to complications at immigration.

How long does the Kerala medical visa process take?
The e-Medical Visa itself is often processed within about 72 hours once the hospital's Medical Reference Number and invitation letter are ready, but sourcing those hospital documents typically adds several weeks, so most patients start two to three months out.

Can more than one family member accompany a patient to Kerala?
Up to two attendants can travel on Medical Attendant e-Visas per patient, but both must be blood relatives and are only approved after the patient's own e-Medical Visa is issued.

Do medical visa holders need to register with police in Kerala?
Yes. Registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office is required within 14 days of arrival and can typically be completed online through the e-FRRO portal rather than in person.

Which Kerala airport is best for medical travel?
Cochin International Airport (COK) has the most international connections of Kerala's airports, though travelers from the US or Canada should expect at least one connection through a Middle Eastern or European hub.

Facts checked against government and hospital sources current as of September 20, 2026; confirm current visa fees, processing times, and hospital requirements directly with the Indian e-Visa portal and your chosen hospital before booking.