A PIO Card is an
identification card for Person of Indian Origin, issued to people of Indian
origin, but holding a passport of another country with exception to some
countries such as, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal,
and China. The scheme for Person of Indian Origin card was withdrawn in 2015
and merged with OCI card scheme, i.e. Overseas Citizen of India card.
Person of Indian
Origin cards (PIO card), thereafter, are treated as OCI cards. PIO card holders
get the Person of Indian Origin card stamped and lifelong validity is granted.
‘Registration not required’ is also stamped on the PIO card, thus symbolizing
its equal status as OCI cards. These card holders, people who have either the
Person of Indian Origin card or the Overseas Citizen of India card, are allowed
visa-free entry to India.
The holders of a
Person of Indian Origin card are although allowed to enter the country without
a need for visa, they are not allowed entry to the restricted or protected
areas of India, such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, and other parts. They
still need the Protected area permit to enter these parts, but other than that
they can move freely and use their visit for any purpose including tourism, medical,
business, medical etc. There is no need for registration even of their stay
exceeds more than six months.
A PIO card is
valid only accompanied with a valid passport. The Person of Indian Origin card
is valid for lifetime. The benefits of a PIO crad or a OCI card allows people
up to four generation to settle anywhere in the world, except some of the
countries for which these cards are not valid, and allowed anytime entry
without limit to number of days of the stay, and without visa or interview, on the
condition of a valid passport of the country they reside in. Indian passport is
not valid for PIO cards.
