Persons of Indian Origin Card
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| Persons of Indian Origin Card | |
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| Date first issued | 15 September 2002 |
| Issued by |  India |
| Purpose | Identification |
Persons of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card) is a form of identification issued to a Person of Indian Origin who holds a passport in another country other than Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
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[edit] Conditions
The conditions for issuing a PIO card are:[1]
- person at any time held an Indian passport or;
- person's parents or grandparents or great-grandparents were born in and permanent residents in India, but never moved to (i.e. were nationals of) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or;
- person is spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin as per above.
- person and his/her parents, grand parents or great grand parents must not have been a national of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka at any point of time.
The PIO Card Program came into effect on 15 September 2002.
[edit] Uses
The various benefits available to a PIO cardholders are:
- No visa required for visiting India during the period of validity of PIO Card.
- Exemption from the requirement of registration if stay in India does not exceed 6 months. Should the continuous stay exceed six months, registration will be required within 30 days of the expiry of six months with the concerned Foreigners Registration Officer.
- Parity with non-resident Indians in respect of facilities available to the latter in economic, financial and educational fields.
- All facilities in the matter of acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of immovable properties in India except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties.
- Facilities available to children of Non Resident Indians for getting admission to educational institutions in India including medical colleges, engineering colleges, Institutes of Technology, Institutes of Management etc. under the general categories.
- Facilities available under the various housing schemes of LIC, State Governments and other Government agencies.
Persons with a PIO are not
- allowed to vote
- eligible for an inner line permit. They have to apply for a Protected area permit.
[edit] Registration/Residential Permit
PIO card holders need to register with the appropriate FRRO (Foreigner Regional Registration Office) if they are planning to stay in India for more than 180 days. This requirement is not applicable for minors.[2] The FRRO will issue a "Residential Permit For PIO" which is typically valid till the expiry of the PIO card holder's passport.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "IHC Visa Information - Australia - Home - Persons of Indian Origin(PIO)". vfs-in-au.net. http://www.vfs-in-au.net/personsofindianorigin.html. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "Last sentence of 2nd point under registration". www.immigrationindia.nic.in. http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/Pio_Card2.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
