PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) Card *

(i) PIO Card Scheme:

Short title and commencement:

i) This scheme may be called the Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card) scheme.

ii) It shall come into force with effect from 15^th September, 2002.

2. Definition: In this scheme, unless the context otherwise requires: -

(a) “Indian Mission” means the Embassy of India/High Commission of India/Indian Consulate in a foreign country.

(b) “Persons of Indian origin” means a foreign citizen (not being a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time) if,

(i) he/she at any time held an Indian passport; or

(ii) he/she or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in and permanently resident in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935, and other territories that became part of India, thereafter provided neither was at any time a citizen of any of the aforesaid countries (as referred to in 2(b); or

(iii) he/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under (i) or (ii) above.

3. Form of application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card:-

An application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card shall be made in the prescribed form and shall be accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined.

4. Authority to which application is to be made:-

(i) An application for issue of a PIO Card shall be made to an Indian Mission in the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident.

(ii) Applicants already in India on Long Term Visa (more than one year) shall make the application for issue of a PIO Card to the following authorities:-

(A) Those residing in:-

a) Delhi: Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,

Hans Bhavan, I.P. Estate, New Delhi-110 002

b) Mumbai: Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,

Annexe 11, Commissioner of Police,

Craw Ford Market, Mumbai-400 001

c) Calcutta: Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,

237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road,

Calcutta – 700 020

d) Chennai: Chief Immigration Officer,

Bureau of Immigration,

Shastri Bhavan Annexe,

No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai-600 006

(B) Those residing in areas other than (A) above:-

Joint Secretary(Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs,

1^st Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market,

New Delhi-110 003

5. Authority to grant a PIO Card:-

The authority to grant a PIO Card shall be an Officer in an Indian Mission notified for the purpose or the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officers, new Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, or the Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai.

6. Validity of PIO Card:-

A PIO Card shall be valid for a period of Fifteen years subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

7. Fee:-

Fee for new PIO Card for adult - US $ 310.00

Fee for new PIO Card for children Below the age of 18 years - US $ 155.00

Status of PIO Cards issued earlier as per PIO Card Scheme (1999)

PIO Card issued earlier for US $ 1000/- will continue to remain valid and no refund shall be admissible. However, the validity of the such cards shall be extended by 10 more years without charging any fee.

8. Facilities to be extended to a PIO Card holder:

(i) A PIO Card holder shall not require a visa to visit India.

(ii) A PIO Card holder will be exempted from the requirement of registration if his stay in India does not exceed 180 days.

(iii) In the event of continuous stay in India of the PIO Card holder exceeding 180 days, he/she shall have to get himself/herself registered within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Registration Officer at District Headquarter.

(iv) A PIO Card holder shall enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities available to the latter in the economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. No parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.

9. Cancellation of PIO Card:-

The Central Government may, by order, cancel the PIO Card, if it is satisfied that:

(a) The PIO Card was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or

(b) The PIO Card holder has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected towards the Constitution of India and other laws of India; or

(c) The PIO Card holder is a citizen or subject of any country at war with, or committing external aggression against India; or of any other country assisting the country at war with, or committing such aggression against India; or

(d) The PIO Card holder has been sentenced in India for indulging in acts of terrorism, smuggling of narcotics, arms, ammunitions, etc., or has been sentenced for committing an offence punishable with imprisonment up to one year or fine up to Rupees ten thousand; or

(e) It is not conducive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card.

No reasons shall be assigned for withdrawal of the Card.

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