WHAT IS INDIAN PIO CARD

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 The scheme for Person of Indian Origin card was withdrawn in 2015 and merged with OCI card scheme, i.e. Overseas Citizen of India card.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.