PERSON OF INDIAN ORIGIN CARD (PIO Card)


PIO Card Application Form

NOTIFICATION

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

New Delhi, the 30th March, 1999  
PIO CARD SCHEME

  F.NO.26011/4/98-IC.I.

  1. Short title and commencement :-
  1. This scheme may be called the scheme for issuance of Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card).
  2. It shall come into force with effect from 31st March,1999.
  1. Definition - In this scheme, unless the context otherwise requires :-

a. "Indian Mission" means the Embassy of India/ High Commission of India/ Indian Consulate in a foreign country.
b. "Persons of Indian Origin" means a foreign citizen (not being a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time) if,

i. He/she at any time held an Indian passport; or
ii. he/she or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand 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 aforesaid countries{as referred to in 2(b) above}; or
iii. he/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under (I) or (ii) above.

c.  "PIO Card" means a card issued under this scheme.

  1. Form of application for issue/ renewal of a PIO Card :-

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.

  1. Authority to which application is to be made :-

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. Applicants already in India on long-term visa (more than one year) shall make the application for the issue of a PIO card to the following authorities 

Those residing in India                                                                                                          
Delhi - Foreigners Regional Registration Officer
Hans Bhawan, I.P. Estate
New Delhi-110002  Tel. 0091-11-331 9489  Fax. 375 5183 

Mumbai - Foreigners Regional Registration Officer
Annexe II, Commissioner of Police
Craw Ford Market,
Mumbai-400001  Tel. 0091-22-262 1169 Fax. 262 0721

Calcutta - Foreigners Regional Registration Officer
237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road
Calcutta- 700020  Tel. 0091-33-247 3301  Fax. 247 0549

Chennai - Chief Immigration Officer
Bureau of Immigration
Shastri Bhawan Annexe
No.26, Haddows Road
Chennai- 600006   Tel. 0091-44-827 7036  Fax. 827 7036

Those residing in Indian cities other than above :-

Joint Secretary (Foreigners),
Ministry of Home Affairs, Ist floor
Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market
New Delhi- 110003  Tel. 0091-11-469 3334  Fax. 462 1543

  1. Authority to grant a PIO card :-

  2. The authority to grant a PIO card shall be an officer in an Indian Mission notified in for the purpose or the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta or Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai.

  1. Validity of PIO Card :-

A PIO Card shall be valid for a period of twenty years subject to the validity subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

  1. Fee :-

A fee of US $1000, inclusive of US $250 (non-refundable) as processing fee, will be payable alongwith the application. In case of rejection of the application of the application, US $750 shall alone be refunded to the applicant.

  1. Facilities to be extended to a PIO Card holder :-

  1. A PIO Card holder shall not require a visa to visit India.

  2. A PIO Card holder will be exempted from the requirement of registration if his stay in India does not exceed 180 days.

  3. 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 Registration Officer at District Headquarters.

  4. A PIO Card holder shall enjoy parity with NRIs 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. No parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.

  1. Cancellation of PIO Card :-

The Central Government may, be order, cancel the PIO Card, if it is satisfied that:

  1. The PIO Card was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact; or

  2. The PIO Card holder has shown himself by act of speech to be disaffected towards the constitution of India and other laws of India; or
  3. The PIO Card holder is a citizen or subject of any country at war with, or committing external aggression against India; or of any other country assisting the country at war with, or committing such aggression against India; or

  4. 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 offense punishable with imprisonment upto one year or fine upto rupees ten thousand; or

  5. It is not conducive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card.

No reasons shall be assigned for withdrawal of the Card.


Instructions for filling-up PIO Cards

  1. Please enclose all relevant documents substantiating your claim as a person of Indian origin. (Please also see cols. 13&14)
  2. Attach 4 recent passport size photographs.
  3. A one-time fee of US $1000.00 is to be deposited alongwith the application. The fee should be paid either by cashier check or money order in favor of Embassy of India/ Consulate General of India (as applicable). In the event the applicant is not able to satisfy all the criteria for the PIO Card, an amount of US $250.00 will be retained as processing fee and US $750.00 will be refunded.

NOTE: Furnishing of false information will result in summary rejection of the application. Acceptance of application does not confer any right on the applicant to PIO Card.


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