PIO CARD - INDIA
Person of Indian Origin Information
PIO CARD - INDIA
(Source: Ministry of home affairs: http://www.mha.nic.in/) 
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PIO CARD
- WHO
IS ELIGIBLE?
Any person:
√
who at any time held an
Indian Passport; or
√
he/she or either of his/her
parents or grand parents or great grand
parents was born in an 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 country
as may be specified by Central Government
from time to time; or
√
who is a spouse of a citizen of India or a Person of Indian
Origin as
mentioned above. The scheme is broad-based,
covers up to four
generations and also the foreign spouse of
a citizen of India or a PIO
WHAT BENEFITS ACCRUE TO A PIO CARD HOLDER:
√
No visa required for visiting India.
√
No separate “Student Visa” or “Employment Visa” required for admissions
in Colleges/Institutions or for taking up employment respectively.
√
A PIO Card holder will be exempt from the requirement of registration if
his stay on any single visit in India does not exceed 180 days.
√ 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 Regional Registration Officer / Foreigners Registration Officer
√ Parity with non-resident Indians in respect of facilities available to the latter in economic, financial and educational field.
√ All PIOs including PIO Card holders shall enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities in the matter of acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of immovable properties in India except in maters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. No parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.
√ Facilities available to children of NRIs for getting admission to educational institutions in India including medical colleges, engineering colleges, Institute of Technology, Institute of Management, etc. under the general categories.
√ Facilities available under the various housing scheme of LIC, State Government and other Government Agencies.
√ Special counters at the immigration check posts for speedy clearance.
HOW TO APPLY?
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. Prescribed application from can be obtained from the office of Indian Embassies abroad, Foreign Regional Registration Officer, Delhi/Mumbai/Kolkata/Chennai/ Amritsar and also from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003.
WHERE TO APPLY FOR THE PIO CARD
(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)
Applications 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,
Level –II, East Block VIII,
R.K. Puram Sector – I, New Delhi.
(b)
Mumbai: - Foreigners
Regional Registration Officer,
Annexe – II, Commissioner of Police,
Craw Ford Market, Mumbai – 400001.
(c)
Kolkata: - Foreigners
Regional Registration Officer,
237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road,
Kolkata – 700020.
(d)
Amritsar: - Additional
Deputy Director, Bureau of Immigration,
B/123 Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar.
(e)
Chennai: - Chief
Immigration Officer,
Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan Annexe,
No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai – 600006.
Those residing in areas other than (A) above
:-
Joint Secretary (Foreigners),
Ministry of Home Affairs, Jaisalmer House,
26, Man Singh Road, New Delhi – 110011.
A PIO Card shall be valid for a period of fifteen
years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the passport of
the applicant.
WHAT IS THE FEE PAYABLE FOR OBTAINING THE PIO
CARD
The fee for a PIO Card would be Rs. 15000/- (or its
equivalent in local foreign currency of the country concerned),
payable along with the application. PIO Card to children up to
the age of 18 years will be issued at a fee of Rs. 7,500/- (or its
equivalent in local foreign currency of the country concerned) for a
fifteen year card.
MODE OF PAYMENT OF FEE
The prescribed fee shall be paid by way of a Demand
Draft in favour of the Indian Mission Concerned / FRRO, Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkatta, Amritsar and CHIO, Chennai, where the application for issue of
PIO-Card is required to be submitted. Applications required to be
submitted to Joint Secretary, (foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs,
Jaisalmer House, 26, Man Singh Road, New Delhi - 110011, shall be
accompanied with a Bank Draft of the required amount drawn in favor of
FRRO, Delhi.
WHAT WILL BE THE STATUS OF PIO CARDS ISSUED EARLIER AS PER PIO CARD SCHEME (1999)
PIO Cards issued earlier for US $ 1000 will
continue to remain valid and no refund shall be admissible.. However,
the validity of such cards shall be extendable by 10 more years without
charging any fee.
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ISSUE OF GRATIS PIO CARD
Gratis PIO Card may be issued to an exceptionally
eminent person of Indian Origin who plays an important role in building
bridges between India and the country of his/her adoption, if
he/she expresses a desire to obtain the PIO Card.
Acquisition of Duplicate PIO Card in case of
loss etc:
On a request supported by FIR and other documents, a duplicate PIO card shall be issued on depositing a fee of US $ 100. Duplicate PIO cards will be issued by the same office that issued the original one.
Form link for PIO card http://www.mha.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?ID_PK=84