Medical Treatment in India for UK Patients: Cost, Visa & Travel Guide
Patients from the UK travel to India for planned medical care such as cardiac, orthopedic, bariatric, fertility and cosmetic treatment. The United Kingdom is on India's official list of countries eligible for the online e-Visa, which includes an e-Medical Visa for treatment. The total cost, your flights and the hospital you choose depend on your treatment plan. HealPassage helps patients from the UK compare options and request a personalized cost estimate.
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Why UK Patients Choose India for Treatment
Patients from the UK choose India mainly for access to specialist care, treatment costs that are often lower than comparable private treatment at home, and hospitals that are used to treating international patients. The right choice still depends on your condition, your doctor's advice and your budget.
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Specialist care and advanced treatment
India has large hospitals with specialists in areas such as cardiology, orthopedics, neurology and fertility care. Which hospital and doctor suit you depends on your diagnosis and the procedure you need.
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Costs that are often lower
For many planned procedures, treatment in India often costs less than comparable private treatment in the UK. The difference varies by treatment and hospital, so ask for an itemised written estimate before you decide.
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English is widely used
English is widely used in Indian hospitals, which can make it easier to discuss your diagnosis, ask questions and understand your treatment plan and consent forms.
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Support for international patients
Many hospitals have international patient teams, and facilitators such as HealPassage can help you compare options and organise the practical side of your trip.
Treatments you can explore
These are the main areas we cover. Each page explains common procedures, what affects the cost and what to ask before you decide.
What Does Treatment in India Cost for UK Patients?
There is no single price. The cost depends on your treatment, the hospital, the type of room, how long you stay and whether your care plan changes. Many planned procedures cost less in India than comparable private treatment in the UK, but the only reliable figure is a written, itemised estimate based on your own medical reports.
What affects the cost
- The procedure itself: a simple procedure and a complex surgery are priced very differently.
- The hospital and city: prices vary between hospitals and locations.
- Your surgeon and care team: experience and seniority can affect fees.
- Room type and length of stay: a private room and a longer recovery add to the bill.
- Implants, devices and medicines: the type and brand you need can change the total.
- Tests, scans and complications: extra tests or unexpected needs can add cost.
What a written estimate should include
- The name of the hospital and the doctor who will treat you.
- The exact procedure and the expected length of hospital stay.
- The room type and what the price covers, such as surgeon's fees, nursing, medicines and meals.
- Any implants or devices, with the type and brand.
- What is not included and what could cost extra if your plan changes.
- The currency, payment terms and any deposit required.
Costs outside the hospital bill
Plan for these as well as the treatment itself. Because you will pay in a foreign currency, exchange rate changes can also affect the final cost in pounds sterling.
- Return flights
- Travel and medical insurance
- Visa fees
- Accommodation for you and a companion
- Local transport
- Food and daily expenses
- Medicines to take home
- Follow-up care in the UK
Want an estimate for your case? Send us your diagnosis and reports and we will help you request a personalized written estimate.
💬 Request an Estimatee-Medical Visa for UK Patients Travelling to India
The United Kingdom is on India's official list of countries eligible for the online e-Visa, which includes an e-Medical Visa for patients and an e-Medical Attendant Visa for companions. You apply on the official portal with your passport details, a photograph and a letter from your Indian hospital, and you receive an electronic travel authorization by email.
Visa information last checked against official sources:
How to apply, step by step
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Get a letter from your Indian hospital
The letter must be on the hospital's letterhead and include the tentative date of admission or treatment. It should state your name, nationality and passport number.
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Check your passport and travel plans
Your passport needs at least six months' validity when you apply and two blank pages. You also need a return or onward ticket and enough money for your stay in India.
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Prepare your photo and documents
You upload a recent square JPEG photo with a plain white background, the bio page of your passport and the hospital letter. The portal sets file size limits, so check them before you scan.
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Apply online at the official portal
Choose the e-Medical Visa and apply between 4 and 120 days before your arrival date. Fill in the form yourself and check every detail, because you are responsible for any mistake.
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Pay the fee on the portal
The fee depends on your country, and a bank charge of 3% is added for card payments. It is not refunded if the application is refused or you cancel, so apply once your hospital dates are confirmed.
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Receive your authorization and travel
The electronic travel authorization is sent by email. Check that its status shows as granted, print it and carry it. Immigration stamps your visa on arrival and takes your biometrics.
Eligibility and documents checklist
- A UK passport valid for at least 6 months, with two blank pages
- A separate passport for every traveller. The e-Visa is not available to people listed on a parent's or spouse's passport, so children need their own passport and application
- Scanned bio page of the passport
- A recent photograph that is square, facing the camera, on a plain white background
- Hospital letter on letterhead with the tentative admission date, and your name, nationality and passport number
- Return or onward ticket and enough money for your stay
Companions, health rules and arrival
Travelling with a companion. Up to two attendants can receive an e-Medical Attendant Visa for each patient. Each attendant applies for their own visa, so follow the portal's instructions on how to link it to your application.
Yellow fever certificate. The United Kingdom is not on the Bureau of Immigration's list of notified yellow fever endemic countries. However, anyone arriving from or transiting through a listed country needs a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate, and without one can be quarantined for up to 6 days. If your journey includes a stop in a listed country, check the list and get vaccinated in good time.
Overseas Citizens of India. The UK government's travel advice says British citizens need a visa to enter India unless they hold a valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. If you hold an OCI card, you do not need an e-Medical Visa.
Forms to complete before you arrive. Foreign nationals must complete the online e-arrival card before reaching immigration, up to 72 hours before arrival. India has also introduced an online health self-declaration form for international air passengers. These are not visas, so check the current rules and deadlines on the official Indian portals before you fly.
Check the UK government's travel advice. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to parts of India, and your travel insurance may be invalid if you travel against its advice. Check the advice for the region where your hospital is, and make sure your insurance covers medical treatment abroad.
Arrival and your stay. You can enter on an e-Visa only through the designated airports and other entry points listed on the portal, so confirm that your hospital's city has one. The e-Visa cannot be extended or converted to another visa. If a visa is valid for more than 180 days, you must register with the immigration authorities within 14 days of arriving in India.
Check the official sources
Always confirm the latest rules directly with the Indian authorities:
- Official Indian e-Visa portal: eligible countries, documents, fees and instructions
- Bureau of Immigration: medical treatment in India
- Bureau of Immigration: health regulation and yellow fever rules
- UK government: India travel advice, entry requirements
Not sure what your hospital needs to prepare? Message our team with the treatment you are considering and we will explain what to ask for.
💬 Ask About the VisaThis is general information, not legal or immigration advice. The Indian authorities decide visa applications, and requirements can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions patients from the UK ask most often when they start planning treatment in India.
Can UK citizens use the India e-Medical Visa?
Yes. The United Kingdom is on India's official list of countries eligible for the online e-Visa, which includes an e-Medical Visa for treatment. You apply on the official e-Visa portal with your passport, a photograph and a letter from your Indian hospital. British citizens who hold a valid Overseas Citizen of India card do not need a visa. Check the portal for the current rules before you apply.
What documents do UK patients need for the e-Medical Visa?
You upload the bio page of your passport, a recent square photograph on a white background, and a letter from the Indian hospital on its letterhead showing the tentative admission date, with your name, nationality and passport number. Your passport must be valid for at least six months with two blank pages, and you need a return or onward ticket and enough money for your stay.
How early should I apply, and what does the e-Medical Visa cost?
You can apply between 4 and 120 days before your arrival date. The fee depends on your country and is shown on the official portal, with a 3% bank charge added for card payments. It is not refunded if the application is refused or you cancel, so apply once your hospital dates are confirmed.
Can a family member travel with me?
Up to two attendants can receive an e-Medical Attendant Visa for each patient. Each attendant applies for their own visa, and every traveller, including children, needs their own passport because the e-Visa is not available to people listed on a parent's or spouse's passport.
What forms do I need to complete before arriving in India?
Foreign nationals must complete the online e-arrival card before reaching immigration, and it can be filled in up to 72 hours before you arrive. India has also introduced an online health self-declaration form for international air passengers. Neither is a visa, so check the current rules and deadlines on the official Indian portals before you fly.
Can I extend my e-Medical Visa if my treatment takes longer?
The official e-Visa portal states that an e-Visa cannot be extended or converted to another visa category. Ask your hospital how long your treatment and recovery may take, and check the portal for the validity of your visa type before you choose your travel dates.
How much does treatment in India cost for UK patients?
There is no single price. The cost depends on your treatment, the hospital, your room type and how long you stay. Ask for an itemised written estimate based on your medical reports, and budget separately for flights, visa fees, accommodation, insurance and follow-up care.
Will my travel insurance cover treatment in India?
Standard travel insurance may not cover planned treatment abroad or complications from it, and it can be invalid if you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice. Ask your insurer in writing what is covered, and ask the Indian hospital how complications would be handled.
What follow-up care will I need after returning to the UK?
Share your medical records with your GP before you travel and ask what follow-up care you will need when you return. Before you leave India, ask for a full discharge summary, your test results and a written follow-up plan for your UK doctors, and ask the Indian hospital how to reach your treating team if a problem comes up after you return.
How do I get started with HealPassage?
Share your diagnosis, recent reports and the treatment you are considering through the WhatsApp link or the enquiry form on this page. Our team will explain your options and help you request a personalized estimate.
Have a question that isn't here? Message our team with your situation and we will point you in the right direction.
💬 Ask Our TeamThis information is general and not medical, legal or immigration advice. Your treating doctor decides what treatment is right for you, and the Indian authorities decide visa applications.
Send Us Your Query
Travelling from the UK and prefer to write instead of using WhatsApp? Fill in the form and our team will reply with guidance on hospital options and an estimated cost for your treatment.
To help us respond faster, tell us:
- Your condition or the treatment you are considering
- Which reports or scans you already have
- Whether you already have a letter from an Indian hospital for your e-Medical Visa
- Any questions you would like answered
Prefer a quick chat? Message us on WhatsApp.
