Timings: The Consular Section is open on all working days from 10:00 hrs to 12:30 hrs for receiving the documents for service. Serviced documents may be collected between 15:30 hrs to 16:30 hrs on the day advised.

 PERSON OF INDIAN ORIGIN CARD (PIO CARD) SCHEME 2002

The Government of India had launched the PIO Card Scheme in 1999 and has revised it making the journey back to roots in India much simpler, easier, flexible and hassle free.

   Eligiblity

All persons of Indian origin who hold passport of any other country(not being a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries as may be specified by the Govt. of India from time to time) will be eligible to apply for PIO Card, if:-

1. who at any time held an Indian Passport; or
2. 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 Govt. 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.

   Benefits available to PIO Card holder

1. A PIO Card holder will not require a separate visa to visit India. The PIO Card holders will not required ‘Student’ Visa for undertaking studies in India and similarly no ‘Employment’ visa will be required for taking up employment in India.
2. A PIO Card holder will be exempt from the requirement of registration if his stay on any single visit in India does not exceed 180 days. In the event of continuous stay in India of 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 concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer(FRRO).
3. All PIOs including PIO Card holders will enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of 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. No parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.
4. Special counters at the immigration check posts/international airports for speedy clearance for PIO Card holders.

   How to apply

An application for issue of a PIO Card can be made in the prescribed form, in duplicate, accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined and four passport size photographs. Form can be downloaded from www.mha.nic.in/pioscheme.

   Validity of the PIO Card

A PIO Card would be valid for a period of 15 years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant. Upon expiry of existing passport, relevant entries could be made by the Embassy in the PIO Card, of new passport of PIO Card holder.

   PIO Card Fee

The fee for a PIO Card is Rs.15,000/- ( or its equivalent in local foreign currency) payable along with the application. PIO Card to children upto the age of 18 years will be issued at a fee of Rs.7,500/- (or its equivalent in local foreign currency) for a 15 year card.