(Image source from: Madhyamam)

1.  What Is the Eligibility for Getting the PIO Card

Each and every person of Indian origin who is a citizen of another country, not being a citizen of any country that may be specified by the Government of India from time to time, will be eligible to apply for PIO Card.

(i) The person at any time held an Indian passport; or

(ii) The person or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents was born in, and was permanently resident in India, provided further that neither was at any time a citizen of any of the aforesaid excluded countries; or

(iii) The person is the spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under (i) or (ii) above.

Currently, the specified countries whose nationals are ineligible for grant of PIO Card are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Nepal. Further, if the applicant himself or either of his parents, grandparents or great grandparents held the nationality of these specified countries at any time, he will not be granted PIO Card.

Iranian nationals of Indian origin can be considered for grant of PIO card. The Missions or other agency authorized to issue PIO card would obtain prior clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs before issuing the card to an Iranian national.

2.  Where Can the Application for PIO Card Be Filed?    

i.  An application for issue of PIO Card shall be made in the prescribed Form to an Indian Mission/ Post in the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident.

ii.  Applicants already in India on long term visa (one year or more) may submit the application to the FRROs concerned.

FRROs may ensure that henceforth, the application which is submitted to the FRRO concerned is acknowledged and PIO card is issued to the eligible applicants within 30 days of submission of application if no adverse information is available in the matter.

Henceforth, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi will not accept PIO applications but will deal with all policy matters pertaining to PIOs. However, in case of any doubt, the cases may be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs by FRRO concerned for clarification/decision.

Applications beyond their respective jurisdiction may be accepted by concerned FRRO in exceptional cases and forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs with the recommendation of the officer concerned for grant/refusal of PIO card.

3.  What Are the Documents Required to Get PIO Card?

i.  Indian Passport/travel document of the applicant or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents.

ii. Proof of previous Indian nationality of the applicant or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents.

iii.  Any other document satisfactorily proving the previous nationality of the applicant as an Indian e.g. revenue records/domicile certificate/school/college leaving certificates, etc. may be considered on proper verification.

4.  What Is the Fee for PIO Card?    

A fee of Indian Rupees 15,000 or equivalent in local foreign currency shall be payable along with the application. The fee for a PIO Card for a child up to the age of 18 Years will be Rs. 7,500 (or, it’s equivalent in local foreign currency).

5.  What is the Validity of the PIO Card?

The PIO Card will have a validity of 15 years subject to the condition that a valid Passport accompanies it.

6.  What Are the Benefits to a PIO Card Holder?   

The PIO cardholders are entitled to the following benefits:

i. A multiple entries, multi-purpose visa for visiting India. PIO Card itself is
treated as a Visa.

ii. No separate Student/Employment/Business visa will be required for admission in colleges/intuitions or taking up employment, business, etc in India.

iii. Special counters for speedy immigration clearance at designated Immigration check posts.

iv. Exemption from registration with local police authorities for continuous stay up to 180 days in India.

v. Exemption from registration with local police authorities for miners up to 16 years of age

vi. Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial and educations fields except for acquisition of agricultural land or plantations

vii. PIO Card can be used as identity proof for applying for an (I) PAN card, (II) driving license and (III) opening of Ban account in India, if the PIO card holder resides in India.

By Sowmya Sangam