Travel Guide for International Patients

Practical information for patients travelling to Ahmedabad for eye or dental treatment at Sadbhaav. Rules change, so always confirm visa and health requirements on the official websites before you book.

Checked October 2026. We do not arrange visas, flights or accommodation; this guide is to help you plan.

1. Visa: the e-Medical visa

• Patients travelling for medical treatment use India's e-Medical visa, applied for online on the official Government of India e-Visa website (indianvisaonline.gov.in). Use only the official site; other websites charge extra fees.
• The e-Medical visa allows triple entry and is valid for 60 days from your arrival in India. Processing usually takes 3–5 working days, so apply at least a week or two before travel.
• You upload a scan of your passport photo page, a photograph and a letter from the hospital or clinic in India where you will be treated.
• Family members travelling with you apply for the e-Medical Attendant visa, linked to your application.
• Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is one of the airports where e-Visa holders can arrive.
• Most African nationalities are eligible for the e-Visa, but check the list on the official website. If your country is not eligible, apply for a regular medical visa at the Indian embassy or high commission.

2. Yellow fever certificate

India requires a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate from travellers arriving from, or who have passed through, countries with a risk of yellow fever, which includes many countries in West, Central and East Africa. Travellers without a valid certificate can be quarantined on arrival. The vaccine must be given at least 10 days before travel. Check the current list with India's Ministry of Health or your nearest Indian mission before you travel.

3. Flights to Ahmedabad

• There are currently no direct passenger flights from Africa to Ahmedabad. Most patients connect through a Gulf hub such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, all of which have flights to Ahmedabad, or fly to Mumbai or Delhi and take a short domestic flight.
• The clinic is in Motera, in the north of Ahmedabad, a short taxi ride from the airport.
• Book a flexible or changeable return ticket in case your doctor advises a few extra days.

4. Where to stay

Motera, Sabarmati and Chandkheda, close to the clinic, have hotels, guest houses and serviced apartments at a range of prices. Choose a refundable booking if possible. App-based taxis (such as Uber and Ola) and auto-rickshaws are easy to find in Ahmedabad.

5. Weather and when to come

• November to February: pleasant and dry, the most comfortable time to visit.
• March to June: very hot, often above 40°C in April and May.
• July to September: monsoon rains, with occasional flooding of roads.

6. Money, phone and food

• Fees are paid in Indian rupees (INR). International cards work at most ATMs; tell your bank before you travel. Ask us which payment methods the clinic accepts.
• You can buy an Indian SIM card at the airport or a phone shop with your passport and visa.
• Ahmedabad has many vegetarian restaurants and plenty of non-vegetarian food. Gujarat restricts the sale of alcohol, and you should avoid alcohol around surgery anyway.

7. Time difference

Our clinic hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm India time (UTC+5:30).

8. What to bring

• Passport, printed e-Visa approval and yellow fever certificate
• All medical, eye and dental reports, X-rays and scans
• Your current medicines with prescriptions, in hand luggage
• Travel insurance that covers medical care
• Glasses, and for dental patients any existing dentures or retainers

9. Before you fly home

• Collect your written treatment summary, prescriptions and follow-up plan.
• Make sure your doctor has reviewed you and agreed it is safe to fly.
• Keep our WhatsApp number for questions after you return.

Official sources: Government of India e-Visa website (indianvisaonline.gov.in); Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (yellow fever requirements); Bureau of Immigration, India. This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice.