X Visa India (Spouse & Dependent Visa)
For Spouses, Children and Families in India
Help with India's X visas — Entry (X-2) visas for foreign spouses and children of Indian citizens and OCI cardholders, X-1 for Persons of Indian Origin, and dependant visas for families of foreign workers and students.
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Who is the X visa for?
India's X visas cover two quite different groups. Foreign spouses and children of Indian citizens, Persons of Indian Origin and OCI cardholders hold an Entry (X-2) visa, and Persons of Indian Origin without OCI hold X-1. The spouse and children of a foreign national in India on an Employment, Business, Student or Research Visa hold a dependant visa tied to that person's, which MHA's documents also describe as an Entry (X) visa. Which one applies decides how long you can stay, what happens if circumstances change, and whether you can convert inside India.
- X-1
- Persons of Indian Origin without an OCI card · up to five years at a time
- X-2
- Spouses and children of Indian citizens, PIOs and OCI cardholders · up to five years at a time
- Dependant visas
- Family of Employment, Business, Student and Research Visa holders · tied to the principal's visa
- Work allowed
- No — a separate Employment Visa is needed, with narrow in-country exceptions
- Married in India?
- A valid visa can be converted to X-2 through the FRRO
About X Visa India (Spouse & Dependent Visa)
Last reviewed · Verify current rules on the official portals before acting
The name X visa is used for two things, and knowing which one you need clears up most of the confusion. The first is India's Entry (X) visa category itself: X-2 for foreign spouses and children of Indian citizens, Persons of Indian Origin and OCI cardholders, X-1 for Persons of Indian Origin without an OCI card, and smaller sub-categories such as X-3 for people joining Auroville, the Missionaries of Charity, the Aurobindo Ashram or similar approved organisations. The second is the dependant visa for the family of a foreign national in India on an Employment, Business, Student or Research Visa, with sub-types such as E-1X or S-1X that MHA's documents also describe as Entry (X) visas for dependants. The two follow different rules. An X-2 rests on your relationship with an Indian citizen, PIO or OCI cardholder and can be granted for up to five years at a time; a dependant visa rests on the principal holder's visa. Neither permits employment. If you married an Indian citizen while in India on a valid visa, the FRRO can convert that visa to X-2. We help families identify the right visa, prepare the documents, and handle FRRO registration, extensions and conversions; decisions rest solely with the Indian authorities.
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- Foreign spouses of Indian citizens, Persons of Indian Origin and OCI cardholders (X-2)
- Children of Indian citizens, Persons of Indian Origin and OCI cardholders who are not OCI cardholders themselves (X-2)
- Persons of Indian Origin who do not hold an OCI card (X-1)
- Spouses and dependent children of foreign nationals on Employment, Business, Student or Research Visas (dependant visas)
- Foreign nationals who married an Indian citizen, PIO or OCI cardholder while their visa was valid, converting inside India (X-2)
- People joining Auroville, the Missionaries of Charity, the Aurobindo Ashram or similar approved organisations (X-3)
Documents Required
- Recent photograph
- Passport and visa — photo page, validity page, arrival stamp page and the visa
- Proof of residence — Form III from a hotel or lodge, a landlord's bill with their letter and photo ID, or a lease agreement
- Spouses of Indian citizens, PIOs or OCI cardholders: marriage certificate from a Registrar of Marriages or an Indian Mission abroad
- Copy of the Indian spouse's passport, or the spouse's PIO or OCI card
- Children of an Indian citizen or PIO: the child's birth certificate
- Undertaking that you will not take up employment or do business in India (X-2)
- Dependants of foreign workers: copy of the principal visa holder's passport, with the employer's request letter and undertaking
- Registration certificate or residential permit, for extensions
Document requirements can vary based on nationality, consulate, and specific circumstances. We provide tailored document checklists during consultation.
Free X Visa Checklist
Download our comprehensive X Visa guide — the complete document checklist, exact specifications, common mistakes to avoid, a step-by-step preparation timeline, quick FAQs, and official government resources.
Download Free PDFNo email required to download. Includes a full document checklist, specifications, common mistakes, a preparation timeline, FAQs and official resources.
How We Help You
Identify the Right X Visa
Spouse of an Indian citizen, PIO or OCI cardholder, a Person of Indian Origin, or a dependant of a foreign national: each follows different rules, so we start by confirming which applies.
Apply From the Right Place
Most X visas are applied for through an Indian mission before travel. If you married an Indian citizen, PIO or OCI cardholder while in India on a valid visa, the FRRO can convert that visa instead.
Prepare the Documents
Marriage or birth certificates, the spouse's or principal's passport, proof of residence and any required undertaking, checked so names and dates agree across every document.
Registration and Extensions
We check the registration requirement on your visa and handle FRRO registration and extensions through e-FRRO, including the Ministry of Home Affairs referral after the first five years on X-1 and X-2.
Plan the Long Term
For spouses of Indian citizens and OCI cardholders, OCI is usually the next step once the marriage qualifies. For dependants, we keep the family's visas in step with the principal's.
Common Questions About X Visa
What is the difference between X-1, X-2 and a dependant visa?
They cover different people and follow different rules. X-1 is for Persons of Indian Origin who do not hold an OCI card. X-2 is for foreign spouses and children of Indian citizens, Persons of Indian Origin and OCI cardholders, other than those who are OCI cardholders themselves, and both X-1 and X-2 can be granted for up to five years at a time with multiple entry. Dependant visas are for the spouse and children of a foreign national in India on an Employment, Business, Student or Research Visa: MHA's category list gives them sub-types such as E-1X or S-1X, and its documents describe them as Entry (X) visas for dependants. A dependant visa rests on the principal holder's visa; an X-2 rests on your relationship with an Indian citizen, PIO or OCI cardholder.
Can I get an X visa inside India after marrying an Indian citizen?
Yes, if you married while your visa was still valid. MHA's visa guidelines let the FRRO convert an e-Visa, Visa on Arrival, Tourist, Business, Employment, Student or Research Visa to an Entry (X-2) visa when the holder marries an Indian national, a Person of Indian Origin or an OCI cardholder during that visa's validity. The application goes through e-FRRO and the FRRO decides. The documents include a marriage certificate from a Registrar of Marriages or an Indian Mission abroad, a copy of your spouse's Indian passport, and an undertaking not to work or run a business. Our page on converting a tourist visa to an X visa explains the process, the timing that matters, and what happens if the marriage came after your visa expired.
Can an X visa holder work in India?
Not on the X visa itself. Spouses converting to X-2 give an undertaking that they will not take up employment or do business in India, and dependants of foreign workers need an Employment Visa in their own right to work. MHA's rules allow two narrow in-country routes. The spouse of an intra-company transferee on an E-3X visa can move to an Employment Visa, meeting all its conditions, with the Ministry of Home Affairs' prior approval. A Bangladeshi national on an X-2 visa, married to an Indian national but not entitled to OCI, can be converted to an Employment Visa by the Ministry with a minimum salary of ₹9.10 lakh a year. Otherwise, apply for an Employment Visa and do not start work before it is granted.
Can a dependant on an X visa study in India?
There is a defined route. MHA's supporting-documents list includes converting a dependant's Entry visa to a Student Visa, or to a Research Visa, through the FRRO, with the usual student documents: a bonafide certificate or Form S from the institution, proof of financial resources and, for research, the institution's affiliation certificate and a synopsis. Whether a particular course needs that conversion before a dependant can enrol is worth checking with both the institution and your FRRO before term starts, because the answer depends on the course and your circumstances. MHA's rules also allow the X visa of a foreigner born to Indian nationals to be converted to a Student Visa, subject to verification of PIO status.
How long is an X visa valid?
It depends on which kind you hold. X-1 and X-2 visas can be granted for up to five years at a time with multiple entry. After five years, a further extension is referred by the FRRO to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which grants one year, and later extensions of up to five years at a time can be granted by the FRRO. A dependant visa for the family of a foreign worker follows the principal visa holder's: under MHA's rules, it can be extended by the FRRO for a total of five years from the date of the initial visa, co-terminus with the principal's visa. Check the validity printed on the visa you receive, since the period granted is decided in each case.
What happens to a dependant's visa if the principal's visa ends?
Because a dependant visa rests on the principal holder's status, it follows that status. If the principal changes employer, finishes a course, loses their job or leaves India, the family's visas are affected too, and the usual answer is fresh visas rather than extensions. A dependant who wants to stay on independently needs a basis of their own, such as an Employment Visa. Our guide to what happens when the principal's visa ends walks through the realistic routes and the first steps. For X-2 holders, whose status rests on marriage to an Indian citizen, PIO or OCI cardholder, MHA's rules separately set out what happens after a spouse's death or a divorce.
Is FRRO registration required for X visa holders?
Usually. Under Rule 12 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, an X visa valid for more than 180 days means registering within 14 days of arrival; on a visa that limits each stay to 180 days, you register only if you will stay longer, and then before the 180 days run out. If the endorsement on your visa sets its own requirement, follow it, and register through e-FRRO before the deadline passes. Children below the age of 12 are exempt from registration. Registration is also the basis for later extensions, so keep your Certificate of Registration safe.
Official government sources
We base our guidance on official Indian government sources and update it as rules change. Requirements are set by the authorities and can change — always verify the current position directly before you apply:
Helpful Reading on X Visa
Tourist Visa to X Visa After Marriage
Converting to X-2 inside India after marrying an Indian citizen, PIO or OCI cardholder.
Visa Conversion in India
Every in-country conversion MHA's rules provide for, with the paragraph for each.
FRRO Registration After Marriage
What changes for your visa and registration after marrying an Indian citizen.
OCI Card for a Foreign Spouse
The two-year rule, and why the X-2 visa is the bridge until then.
Understanding the Dependent X Visa
For families of foreign workers: what the dependant visa allows and how it links to the principal.
Can You Work on an X Visa?
The clear answer on employment and study, and the right route if you want to work.
X Visa Extension Guide
Keeping a dependant's stay in step with the principal visa holder through e-FRRO.
When the Principal's Visa Ends
What a dependant's options are when the visa they rely on comes to an end.
OCI vs X Visa
How the Entry visa and OCI compare for families of Indian citizens.
Free tools to plan your India visa
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Disclaimer: We are an independent visa and immigration consulting service. We are not affiliated with the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), FRRO, or any government agency. Visa decisions are made solely by the relevant government authorities. Information on this page is for general guidance only.
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