M-3 visa (AYUSH) is granted to a foreigner (other than a Pakistani national) whose sole purpose is to seek treatment through Ayush systems/Indian systems of medicine like therapeutic care and wellness in a Hospital/Wellness Centre accredited and registered with any Government authority concerned or National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH)/ National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH)/ National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) accredited hospitals providing Ayush services.

The initial period of validity of M-3 visa may be up to a period of one year or the period of treatment with maximum of three entries during one year. This period can be extended further on yearly basis subject to a maximum of 5 years from the date of issue of initial M-3 Visa, by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) concerned, subject to fulfilment of specified conditions.

Similarly, e-M3 visas shall be granted for a period of upto 60 days from the date of first entry into India with maximum of three entries. Extension in case of e-M3 visa may be granted for up to 06 months on case-to-case basis on merits of each case by the FRRO/ Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) concerned.

M-3 visa is issued to persons of assured financial standing (the production of return ticket and availability of sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India including the expenses for such treatment may be considered sufficient for this purpose).

This information was given by the Minister of State (IC) for Ayush Shri Pratap Rao Jadhav in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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SR/GS/SG