The Indian High Commission in Nigeria has released a comprehensive list of 12 key requirements that Nigerian applicants must meet to obtain a medical visa for treatment in India in 2026. The requirements include valid yellow fever and polio vaccination certificates, referral letters from recognized hospitals in both Nigeria and India, and proof of financial capacity. The visa, known as the MED Visa, is issued exclusively for specialized medical treatment at recognized hospitals or medical centers in India.
Visa Fee and Application Process
The medical visa application currently attracts a fee of $252, including a surcharge. Applications are accepted on working days between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at the Indian High Commission in Abuja. Applicants must ensure their passport is valid for at least six months and submit a completed online visa application form, two recent passport photographs (2 inches by 2 inches with a light background), and valid personal contact details including an email address.
Referral and Invitation Letters
Applicants must provide an original referral letter from a recognized Nigerian hospital explaining their medical condition and the reasons for seeking treatment in India. The referral letter must be printed on the hospital's official letterhead, signed, stamped, and sent directly from the hospital's official email address to the Indian High Commission. Additionally, an invitation letter from the Indian hospital where treatment will be carried out is compulsory. The invitation must indicate the nature of treatment, proposed dates, contact details of the hospital, and details of any accompanying attendants. The Indian hospital is required to email the invitation directly to the High Commission, and applicants must include printed copies of both the invitation letter and the email confirmation.
Financial Proof Required
Applicants must demonstrate their ability to finance their treatment and stay in India. This includes submitting certified bank statements covering the previous three months or a bank guarantee letter. If another person is sponsoring the trip, an affidavit from the sponsor along with a copy of the sponsor's identification or passport must be attached.
Additional Medical Records
The High Commission also requires copies of previous medical records from Nigeria, including CT scan, MRI, or X-ray reports where applicable. Patients returning for follow-up treatment must provide discharge summaries and previous treatment records from the Indian hospital. For organ transplant procedures, donor compatibility reports are additionally required.
Vaccination Requirements
Oral polio vaccination (OPV/IPV) remains mandatory for residents of Nigeria traveling to India. The vaccination certificate is valid for one year from the date of administration and must be presented during travel. Yellow fever vaccination is also compulsory, except for infants younger than six months.
Strictness of Indian Visas
A Nigerian social media user, @peculiarpat1, commented on the strictness of Indian visas, stating: "The toughest visa I ever processed was an Indian visa. My first application in 2017 went very smoothly. I can’t even remember if I went through an interview before the visa was issued. However, in early 2018, I got another invitation to attend a conference. I learned from an unconfirmed story that Indian authorities may have felt too many Nigerians were entering their country and decided to limit visas. The only thing those guys didn’t request from me was to resurrect my late mum and bring her for them to see." He added that about 70% of Nigerian applicants he met at the embassy were seeking medical visas.
Consular Officer Discretion
The Indian High Commission noted that meeting the listed requirements does not automatically guarantee visa approval. Consular officers may request additional documents or invite applicants for interviews where necessary before a final decision is made. The mission advised applicants to ensure all submitted information is accurate and complete to avoid delays in processing their medical visa applications.
