How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?
At the Marseille consulate, a regular Entry Visa applicant completes the form online, prints and signs it with photographs, books an appointment, and presents the supporting documents. Current Indian consular category tables place foreign spouses and children of an Indian citizen, person of Indian origin or OCI cardholder who are not themselves registered OCI cardholders in Entry Visa X1; X2 now denotes a different institutional purpose. The Marseille consulate says Entry Visa holders must register with FRRO/FRO if stay exceeds 180 days or the visa so stipulates, and may not undertake employment, formal education or business unless expressly endorsed. The former X2 five-year and widowhood rules in the 2020 MHA Annex cannot be assigned to current X1 on this evidence; current duration, conversion, and independent residence terms remain unconfirmed.
See recorded sources
Limits of the record- The original route name/code X2 conflicts with current consular X1 family mapping. Current X1 duration, conversion, independence and any exceptions to activity limits are not established here.
- Gaborone current X1/X2 category mapping
12
Miscellaneous Visas
(X)
X-1
- For Persons of Indian Origin and foreign spouse & foreign children of an Indian citizen/ Person of Indian Origin/ OCI cardholder (other than those registered as OCI cardholder)
X-2
For those coming to join Auroville Foundation, Aurobindo Ashram, Missionaries of Charity, Temples or similar approved organizations and for foreign Buddhist monks coming to India for joining the Buddhist Monasteries/ other Buddhist organizations for charity work
X-3
- Double Entry Visa (for Bangladeshi nationals only). For those coming to India to apply for a visa in foreign missions accredited to both India and Bangladesh
X-4
- Stay Visa for Afghanistan nationals
X- Misc.
- For purposes which are not covered by any other visa category
- Marseille current Entry Visa mapping and activity limits
Entry Visa – Guidelines
Purpose and Eligibility
The Entry Visa is issued under three sub-categories based on the purpose of visit:
X1 Visa: For persons of Indian origin, including their foreign spouse and foreign children of an Indian citizen, person of Indian origin,
X2 Visa: For foreign nationals coming to India to join recognized institutions and organizations such as:
Auroville Foundation
Aurobindo Ashram
Missionaries of Charity
Temples and other similar approved religious or charitable organizations.
X-Misc:
Visa is issued to foreign nationals whose purpose of visit does not fall under any of the standard visa categories outlined in the Indian Visa Manual like Foreign nationals holding property in India with prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Important Guidelines
The Entry Visa is specifically designed to facilitate persons of Indian origin and their families, as well as individuals joining recognized religious or charitable organizations in India.
It also accommodates other special categories or purposes not included in standard visa classifications.(X- Misc)
Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria corresponding to the sub-category of the Entry Visa being applied for.
Registration with FRRO/FRO is required if the stay exceeds 180 days or as stipulated in the visa conditions.
Visa holders are not permitted to engage in employment, formal education, or business activities in India, unless explicitly endorsed.
- Marseille regular/paper visa application process, local consular channel
Regular/Paper Visa Application Process– Important Guidelines for all applicants
Step 1: Complete the Online Regular Visa Application Form
Begin your visa application by completing the online form on the official website
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/Registration
For visa service delivery in Consulate General of India, Marseille; select Consulate General of India, Marseille and visa category.
Fill in all required details accurately, as per your passport.
Download and print the duly filled application form, affix signatures in designated space (2 places), and paste appropriate photographs (2 places).
Guidelines for prescribed passport size photo: (
Photo Guidelines
)
Note: Submitting the online form alone does not complete the application process. You must submit the printed form (physical copy of the application form with appropriate photographs attached and duly signed) and supporting documents in person at the Consulate General of India, Marseille on appointed date and time.
Step 2: Book an Appointment
After completing the online form, book your appointment for submission of your duly completed application form and supporting documents through email
consular[dot]cgimarseille[at]gmail[dot]com
An appointment confirmation email will be sent to you.
Step 3: Pay the Visa Fee
Please check the
applicable visa fee
on the official Consulate General of India, Marseille website prior to your appointment.
Visa fees are to be paid at the counter in the Consulate General of India, Marseille at the time of your scheduled appointment.
Applicants are requested to bring the exact cash amount for prescribed Visa Fees and ICWF Fees.
Step 4: Visit the Consulate General of India, 397 Avenue du Prado, Marseille 13008 on appointed date and time.
What to Bring:
Your original passport
Printed and signed visa application form along with prescribed photographs. (as per above specification)
All supporting documents (originals and photocopies); please attach supporting documents as mentioned under each category of visa.
Important Guidelines:
Arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your appointment.
Only the applicant/his representative (unless biometrics is required see Step 5) will be permitted inside. Parents may accompany children under 18.
If you miss your appointment, a new one must be booked after 24 hours.
Step 5: Biometric Data Collection (if required)
All the visa applicants having visa application for more than one year are required to come personally to the Embassy counter for biometric data capture. However, the following applicants are exempted:
Applicants below the age of twelve years and above the age of seventy years.
If your finger scans were collected within the last 59 months, then you won’t have to give new fingerprints for your next visa application(s) and personal appearance is not necessary.
You may be required to submit fingerprints and a photograph at Embassy
Religious headgear is allowed but your forehead, face, and ears must be visible.
Avoid light-coloured clothing; bright colours are recommended.
Ensure your fingertips are free from mehndi, cuts, or markings.
Step 6: Please attach prepaid registered envelope for return of passport/document by post, if you desire so.
Step 7:
Document Delivery
Applicants must provide a self-addressed registered pre-paid envelope for the return of documents/passport.
Applicants who have not submitted a self-addressed, pre-paid registered envelope and wish to collect their passport/documents directly from the Consulate General of India, Marseille may do so during the document collection hours, from 1600 to 1700 hrs, only after one working day of receiving a confirmation email from the VISA system indicating that the visa has been printed.
If an applicant wishes to authorize someone to collect the documents on their behalf, the representative must present an authority letter duly signed by the applicant with a copy of the representative’s identity document.
