Marriage to Indian National from Bangladesh: X Visa and OCI Pathway (2026)

Marriage to Indian citizen from BD: registration in India or BD, X visa for spouse, OCI el…

• Marriage must be legally registered (Special Marriage Act in India, or BD law)
• Spouse visa: Entry (X) visa — allows residence in India
• OCI eligibility: after 2 continuous years of registered marriage
• OCI provides lifelong residence and work rights in India
• Both parties’ documents must be attested by foreign affairs ministries
• Cross-border marriage process can take 3–6 months for full documentation

Marriage registration options

In India (Special Marriage Act): The most legally robust route. Both parties go to the Marriage Officer’s office in India with 30 days’ notice. Witnesses required. Marriage certificate issued. This route is recognised internationally.

In Bangladesh: Marriage solemnised under Bangladeshi law (Muslim Family Laws Ordinance for Muslim couples, Hindu Marriage Act for Hindu couples, Special Marriage Act for inter-faith). The marriage certificate (kabin nama, Hindu marriage certificate) must then be attested by the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian High Commission Dhaka for recognition in India.

Spouse visa (Entry/X visa)

After marriage, the Bangladeshi spouse can apply for an Entry (X) visa to live with the Indian-citizen spouse in India. The visa is typically issued initially for 12 months, extendable. Required documents: legally attested marriage certificate, both spouses’ passports/identity documents, Indian spouse’s Aadhaar/PAN, financial proof, and the standard IVAC application.

OCI eligibility after 2 years

After 2 continuous years of registered marriage to an Indian citizen, the Bangladeshi spouse becomes eligible to apply for OCI. The marriage must have been registered and continued without interruption. The 2-year clock starts from the date of legal registration, not the date of religious ceremony or any earlier traditional commitment. See OCI eligibility guide.

Common complications

Document attestation between Bangladesh and India can take 2–4 weeks per step (BD MoFA, Indian High Commission Dhaka, plus state-level attestation in India). Cross-border weddings often require visiting both countries for documentation, which means visa applications timed correctly. Consult AGB for the practical step-by-step sequencing for your specific case.