Planning your treatment in India

1. Send your reports

Share your most recent medical reports with us by email or WhatsApp. Useful documents include doctor's notes, blood tests, scans (MRI, CT, X-ray, PET) with their written reports, and a list of current medicines. Recent reports, ideally from the last three months, help doctors give an accurate opinion.

2. Hospital review and written estimate

Before we send your reports anywhere, we ask you to confirm in writing, by email or WhatsApp, that you agree to share them with the named hospitals. We then share them with specialists at those hospitals. The specialists study the reports and usually hold a teleconference with you to understand your condition. They then give you their opinion, the expected length of stay and a written cost estimate. Where possible we get estimates from more than one hospital so you can compare. Our help with this is free.

3. Medical visa

Most nationalities can apply online for an Indian e-Medical visa on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in. Once you choose a hospital, it issues an invitation letter for your application.

• You usually need a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages, a recent photo and the hospital letter
• Up to two close family members can travel with you on e-Medical Attendant visas linked to your application
• Processing usually takes a few working days, so apply at least one week before travel
• If treatment needs a longer stay, the visa can be extended in India with help from the hospital
• Patients staying longer than 180 days must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). We help with this when needed

Visa rules and fees vary by nationality and can change. Always confirm the latest details on the official portal before applying.

4. Flights and arrival

Patients usually fly into Delhi, which has direct flights from most of the world, or into Chandigarh, which has connections to the Gulf. From Delhi, Chandigarh is about four to five hours by road. We arrange airport pickup and, where needed, an ambulance or wheelchair assistance.

5. Stay and daily life

We help you book hotels or service apartments close to your hospital, for the time before admission and after discharge. Tricity has a wide range of options for every budget. We can arrange a local SIM card, currency exchange, halal or vegetarian food and an interpreter for Arabic, French or other languages on request.

6. At the hospital

Your coordinator meets you at the hospital, helps with registration and stays in touch through admission, surgery and recovery. Hospitals usually have an international patient desk and private rooms where one family member can stay with the patient.

7. Payment

You pay the hospital directly according to its policy. Most hospitals ask for an advance deposit at admission and settle the final bill at discharge. Card payments, bank transfers and currency exchange are available. You receive itemised bills and a full discharge summary.

8. Going home

Before you leave, the doctor confirms you are fit to fly and gives you a discharge summary, prescriptions and a follow-up plan. After you return, we arrange online follow-up consultations with the same doctor and help with any questions about your recovery.

Packing checklist

• Passport and printed e-Visa
• Hospital invitation letter
• All medical reports and scan CDs
• Current medicines for the full trip
• Travel insurance documents
• Some cash in US dollars
• Comfortable loose clothing
• Phone charger and adapter

Have a question that is not covered here? Read the FAQ or message us on WhatsApp.