The Government of India has introduced a new category of Ayush (AY) visa for foreign nationals seeking treatment under Ayush systems and Indian systems of medicine. This Ayush visa aims to facilitate therapeutic care, wellness, and yoga for foreigners visiting India.

The new Ayush visa category, incorporated as Chapter 11A in the Visa Manual, will cover treatment under Indian traditional medicine. This initiative is part of India's efforts to promote Medical Value Travel and make Indian traditional medicine a global phenomenon.

The idea of creating a special Ayush Visa was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit in Gujarat in April 2022. This step is aligned with the government's Heal in India initiative, which aims to establish India as a preferred medical value travel destination.

The Ayush and Health & Family Welfare Ministries are collaborating to develop a comprehensive Heal in India portal to promote medical tourism in India. The Global Wellness Institute projects significant growth in the global wellness economy, with the Ayush-based healthcare and wellness economy expected to reach USD 70 billion by 2025.

In addition to the Ayush Visa, the Ministry of Ayush has signed a memorandum of understanding with the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to promote medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. These efforts reflect the government's commitment to promote and expand the Ayush system of treatment both nationally and internationally.