Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card
for NRI business person or Job seeker in India
Ozg Visa Consultant
(The #1 Business Visa Consultancy Services)
# 084.476.06974, 098.735.23276, 098.735.09314, 098.715.62842
1. What is Eligibility for getting the PIO Card?
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 if:
(i) the person at any time held an Indian passport; or
(ii) the person or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents 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.
Presently, the specified countries in this regard are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, China and Nepal. Citizens of these countries are not eligible to get PIO cards.
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 following authorities: -
Those residing in:-
(a) Delhi: To Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Level II, East Block VIII, R.K Puram, Sector I, New Delhi.
(b) Mumbai: To Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annexe - II, Commissioner of Police, Crawford Market, Mumbai - 400001.
(c) Kolkata: To Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata - 700020.
(d) Chennai: To Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Shastri Bhavan, Annexe No.26, Haddows Road, Chennai - 600006.
(e) Amritsar: To Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, (Additional Deputy Director), Bureau of Immigration, B/123, Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab.
(f) Bangalore: To Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Cauvery Bhavan, 9th floor, Bangalore.
(g) Hyderabad: To Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, SIB Office Kothi, Hyderabad.
(iii) Those residing in areas other than above: To the Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Jaisalmer house, 26, Mansingh Road, New Delhi-110011.
3. What are the Documents to be relied upon to get PIO Card?
i. Indian Passport/travel document of the applicant or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents.
ii. Proof of previous Indian nationality of the applicant or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents.
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, its 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 entry, 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/institutions 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. Parity with Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial and educational fields except for acquisition of agricultural land or plantations;
vi. PIO Card can be used as identity proof for applying for a (I) PAN card, (II) driving licence and (III) opening of Bank account in India, if the PIO card holder resides in India.
Note:
i. In the event of continuous stay in India exceeding 180 days, the PIO Cardholder must get himself/herself registered, within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days, with the concerned jurisdictional FRRO/FRO.
ii. The grant of a PIO Card does NOT entitle the cardholder to visit a restricted / protected area. Prior permission of the competent authority is required to be obtained for visiting a restricted / protected area.
iii. A PIO Card does NOT entitle the cardholder to undertake any missionary work, mountaineering and research work, without the prior permission of the Government of India
7. What are the provisions for the issue of a Duplicate PIO Card?
In the event of the loss of a PIO Card, a duplicate card may be issued after charging a fee of US$ 100 or equivalent in local currency, subject to the completion of the other formalities viz. lodging of an FIR, scrutiny of claim, etc. as required to issue a duplicate passport. A duplicate PIO Card may be issued from the same office that issued the original card.
8. On what grounds PIO Card can be cancelled?
(a) the PIO Card was obtained by fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or
(b) the PIO cardholder has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected towards the Constitution of India and other laws of India; or
(c) the PIO cardholder 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 cardholder has been sentenced in India for indulging in acts of terrorism or 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) if it is not conducive in the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card.
Ozg Visa Consultant
(The #1 Business Visa Consultancy Services)
Ozg Center, New Delhi & Mumbai, INDIA
# 084.476.06974, 098.735.23276, 098.735.09314, 098.715.62842
Office Timing: Mon - Sat, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. IST
Email: visa.consultant@ozg.co.in
