A note before you start
We are a travel company, not medical advisers, and this page is about the travel side only. Decisions about treatment should be made with qualified doctors, and the NHS has guidance on going abroad for treatment, including a checklist of questions to ask before you decide.
What we can do is make the journey as smooth as possible: the right visa type, flights that can move if treatment dates change, help at the airports, and seats that suit someone recovering.
Which visa you need
British passport holders travelling to India for treatment should use the visa meant for it. India offers an e-Medical visa for the patient and an e-Medical Attendant visa for companions. According to the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh, both are valid for 60 days from arrival, allow three entries, and up to two attendant visas can be issued for each patient.
Apply only through the official website, indianvisaonline.gov.in. Using a tourist visa for planned treatment is not the right route and could cause problems. OCI cardholders do not need a separate visa.
- Patient: e-Medical visa.
- Up to two companions: e-Medical Attendant visas.
- Apply on the official Indian visa website only.
- Everyone also completes the free e-Arrival card.
Need flexible flights for treatment?
Tell us where your family is and when you want to go. We check every airline and we’ll beat any quote*.
Choosing flights
Treatment plans change. A consultation may lead to extra tests, or recovery may take longer than expected. Choose a fare that allows date changes, especially for the return, and avoid tight connections.
A non-stop flight is often the easiest after treatment, when sitting for a long time and changing planes can be uncomfortable. Ask your doctor about when it is safe to fly, as some procedures need a minimum time before a long-haul flight.
Our tip: Ask the hospital for a fit-to-fly letter before your return, especially after surgery. Airlines may ask for one.
Help at the airport and on board
We can book wheelchair assistance at every airport, request seats with extra legroom or near the front, and arrange special meals. If the patient needs medical equipment, oxygen or a stretcher, the airline’s medical team must approve it in advance, so tell us as early as possible.
See our page on assisted travel for elderly passengers for the help we arrange routinely.
Insurance
Standard travel insurance usually does not cover planned treatment abroad, or complications from it. Read the policy wording, and look at specialist medical travel cover if you need it. The UK government advises comprehensive travel insurance for any overseas trip.
Our travel insurance guide explains what to check.
Questions to ask the hospital
These are travel and logistics questions to raise before you book.
- What exactly is included in the treatment, and what is not.
- How long you need to stay in India before it is safe to fly.
- Who will look after you if there are complications after you return to the UK.
- Whether you will receive full medical records and reports in English to share with your GP.
- Whether the hospital will provide a fit-to-fly letter.
Aftercare back in the UK
Plan the aftercare before you travel. Bring copies of all records, scans and prescriptions home, and tell your GP about the treatment. If something goes wrong after you return, the NHS will treat urgent problems, but follow-up for private treatment abroad may not be straightforward.
Supporting a relative in hospital in India
Many of our customers fly out at short notice because a parent or relative has been taken ill in India. In that case, the visa you need depends on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the official guidance quickly, or use your OCI card if you have one. Call us for the fastest flights, and we will hold seats while you sort out the paperwork if we can.
Where people go
Large private hospitals are found in Delhi and the National Capital Region, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, all with good flight connections from the UK. Chennai and Bengaluru have non-stop flights from Heathrow, and Ahmedabad from Gatwick. See our city pages for the routes: Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
Staying near the hospital
Companions often stay for weeks. Hotels and serviced apartments close to the big hospitals are used to long stays and families of patients. Choose somewhere within easy reach, as traffic in Indian cities can turn a short distance into a long journey, and keep the hospital and your hotel details with your travel documents.
Dental treatment
Dental work is one of the most common reasons people combine treatment with a family visit to India. Many procedures need more than one appointment, sometimes weeks apart, so ask the clinic for the full timetable before you book flights, and leave room for an extra visit if something needs adjusting.
Keep copies of X-rays and treatment notes for your UK dentist, who may need them for future care.
Travelling home after treatment
The journey home is often harder than the journey out. Book an aisle seat with legroom, move around the cabin when it is safe to do so, and drink plenty of water. If you have had surgery, ask your doctor about compression stockings or other precautions for a long flight.
Arrange for someone to meet you at the UK airport, especially if you are travelling alone.
Questions people ask
Can I combine dental treatment with a family visit?
Many people do. Ask the clinic for the full appointment timetable before booking, as some work needs more than one visit.
What visa do I need for medical treatment in India?
On a British passport, usually an e-Medical visa, applied for on the official Indian visa website. Companions use the e-Medical Attendant visa.
How many people can accompany a patient?
Up to two e-Medical Attendant visas are issued for each e-Medical visa, according to the Indian consulate.
How long is the e-Medical visa valid?
According to the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh, 60 days from arrival, with three entries.
Does travel insurance cover treatment abroad?
Usually not for planned treatment or its complications. Look at specialist cover and read the policy wording.
Should I book a flexible ticket?
Yes. Treatment dates and recovery times can change, so choose a fare that allows changes, especially for the return.
Can you arrange wheelchair help after surgery?
Yes, at every airport. Medical equipment, oxygen or stretchers need airline approval in advance.
Do OCI cardholders need a medical visa?
No. An OCI card allows visa-free entry, but check any conditions that apply to your stay.
