Person of Indian Origin Scheme

The Person of Indian Origin card scheme was launched by the Government of India on 31st March 1999 to facilitate a synergetic participation between such persons and the country of their origin.

The feature of the scheme are as follows:


Benefits
1. Provides for visa free entry into India for 15 Years.

2. Holders can undertake studies or employment in India. No separate visa shall be required for the purpose. However, they will be required to fulfill other pre-requisites and formalities in connection with their studies or employment as prescribed by concerned authorities from time to time.

3. PIO card holders shall enjoy parity with NRIs (Non Resident Indians) 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.

4. Separate counters for immigration may be provided to PIO Card holders at all International airports in India.


Eligibility
All persons of Indian origin who hold passport of any other country (not being citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time) will be eligible to apply for PIO Card, if:
   1) he/she at any time held an Indian Passport; or
   2) He/she or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grant 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 specified countries; or
   3) He/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under (I) and (II) above.

Definition of India
Expression ‘India’ includes:
"India’ as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 and other territories that became part of India thereafter - Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman & Diu, Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahe, Yaman, Sikkim.
As per Government of India Act, 1935 includes:
    I. Governor’s Provinces (Section 46 of the Act)
    II. Chief Commissioner’s Provinces (Section 94 of the Act).
    III. Territories of Indian rulers under the suzerainty of His Majesty ( reference para 1 of part II of the first schedule of the Government of India Act,1935 giving table of seats in the Council of States and the Federal Assembly).
    IV. Tribal Areas i.e. the areas along the frontiers of India or in Baluchistan which were not part of British India or of Burma or of any Indian State or of any foreign State.

Fee and Validity
Fee: Euros 315/-
Fee for children below the age of 18: Euros 158/-

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.


Registration formalities
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 Foreigner Regional Registration Officer/ Foreigner Registration Officer.


Obtaining of PIO
Those desirous of obtaining a PIO card may make an application (in duplicate) in the format prescribed, duly supported by necessary documents and submit the same between 9.30AM and 12.00 noon on any working day (Monday to Friday).

The application form should be supported by photocopies of documents to establish one’s Indian origin.

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:

Resident in Delhi:
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer Level II East Block VIII, R. K. Puram Sector - 1 New Delhi

Resident in Mumbai:
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annexe-II, Commissioner of Police, Crawford market , Mumbai-1

Resident in Kolkata:
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata-20

Resident in Amritsar:
Additional Deputy Director, Bureau of Immigration, B/123 Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar

Resident in Chennai:
Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai-6

Those residing in areas other than mentioned above:
Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, 1st Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi-3

Visit to Restricted /Protected Areas
The grant of PIO card shall not per se entitle the holder to visit Restricted/Protected areas. They shall be governed by the instructions issued from time to time.


Undertaking of missionary work / mountaineering / research work
PIO card will not entitle the holder to undertake missionary, mountaineering /research work without prior permission of the Government of India.


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

   I. the PIO card was obtained by means of fraud , false representations or the concealment of any material fact; or
   II. 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
   III. the PIO card holder is a citizen or subject of any country at war with, or committing external aggression against India; or any other country assisting the country at war with . or committing such aggression against India;
   IV. 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 upto one year or fine upto Rupees ten thousand; and
   V. It is not conducive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO card.