Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card
Overview of the PIO Card Scheme:
For the convenience of persons of Indian origin, Government of India has launched the 'PIO
Card' scheme, aimed at making the journey back to the roots, simpler, easier, flexible and
trouble free. In order to provide PIO Card Schme more beneficial, the Government of India has
decided to issue PIO cards with life-time validity with effect from 30 September 2014 provided
that such holder has a valid passport. The PIO cards issued prior to this date shall also be
deemed to be valid for life-time subject to the condition that the card holder has a valid passport.
Starting. With effct from 30 September 2014, the PIO Card Holders are also exempted from
registration with FRRO/Police Authorities during their visit to India for any duration of stay.
Who is a Person of India Origin (PIO)
A person who was an Indian national or any of whose ancestors was an Indian national and
who is presently holding another country’s citizenship/nationality i.e. he/she is holding a foreign
passport; or
Any person who at any time held an India Passport; or
Any person who was born in or was permanently resident in India as defined in the Government
of India Act, 1935 and other territories that became part of India thereafter, or whose parents or
grandparents were so born/resident provided they were, at any point of time, not citizens of
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (for more details
please visit MHA website http://mha.in/pdfs/oci-chart.pdf). The scheme covers up to four
generations; or
Who is eligible for a PIO Card :
Any person meeting any of the above definitions of a PIO, except nationals of Afghanistan,
Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and stateless persons, is eligible for a
PIO card.
Any person who is a spouse of an Indian citizen or of a person of Indian origin (except
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and has been married
for more than one year. (Please note that if marriage is later declared invalid, the PIO Card will
no longer be valid).
Who is ineligible for a PIO Card :
Nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka or any
stateless person, or any person who had been a national of any of these countries or either of
whose parents, grandparents or great grandparents had been nationals of these countries at
any time.
Applicants of Iranian origin can apply for PIO only on the basis of their parents/grandparents’
Indian origin proof.
The PIO cards once issued are valid for life-time subject to the validity of the passport.
Note: The PIO Card will be valid only when accompanied with a valid passport.
Benefits available to a PIO Card Holder
o
No visa required for visiting India during the life-time of the PIO Card Holder..
o
Exemption from the requirement of registration if stay in India for any duration of
stay in India.
o
Parity with non-resident Indians in respect of facilities available to the latter in
economic, financial and educational fields.
o
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.
o
Facilities available to children of NRIs for getting admission to educational
institutions in India including medical colleges, engineering colleges, Institutes of
Technology, Institutes of Management etc. under the general categories.
o
Facilities available under the various housing schemes of LIC, State
Governments and other Government agencies.
Processing time:
3-4 weeks in normal case. It may take longer in certain cases requiring reference to authorities
in India or elsewhere. It is, therefore, advisable not to purchase tickets for travel under the
assumption that the PIO Card would be ready within 4 weeks. As certain technical & procedural
difficulties may not be foreseen, High Commission does not take any responsibility for any loss,
financial or otherwise, to the applicants due to delay in processing the PIO.
Processing of Postal application takes 4-6 weeks.
[ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO PERSONALLY SUBMIT THEIR PIO APPLICATIONS
AT THE COUNTER, ONLY EXCEPTION WILL BE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS APPLYING
TOGETHER OR FOR MINORS WHERE PARENTS CAN SUBMIT THE APPLICATION ON
THEIR BEHALF. THOSE WHO CANNOT COME PERSONALLY MAY SEND APPLICATION
BY POST.

Documents required:
Following documents, along with Photocopies of the relevant pages, are to be submitted
along with the application form for obtaining PIO Card:
Applicants applying on their own basis :


Application form (one set) - Form available at the website of Indian Embassy, Niamey
Copy of Foreign Passport,
Naturalization Certificate (if born in India)

Surrender Certificate, or Birth Certificate (full version) / School Certificate/College
Certificate, or Copy of Indian Passport. Plus Notary Affidavit for non- availability of Indian
Passport.

Four passport size photographs(35 mm by 45 mm size)
THOSE APPLICANTS WHO HAVE EVER HELD INDIAN PASSPORTS AND ARE UNABLE TO
PRODUCE THE SAME FOR SURRENDER FOR ANY REASON (LOSS/ MISPLACEMENT/
SUBMITTED TO SOME AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ETC. ) ARE REQUIRED
TO FURNISH A NOTARISED AFFIDAVIT IN ORIGINAL FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES
ATTESTED BY THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. FOR THOSE APPLICANTS WHO WERE
NATURALIZED AFTER 31ST MAY, 2010, A SURRENDER CERTIFICATE IS COMPULSORY.
Applicants applying on parents/Grandparents basis:

Copy of Foreign Passport,

Naturalization Certificate (if born in India)

Four passport size photograph

Surrender Certificate of parents or grandparents, or Valid/Cancelled Indian Passport of
parents or Grandparents of the applicant, or Birth Certificate of the parents or
grandparents or School or College Certificate/leaving Certificate of the applicant or
parents of the applicant

Applicants full version birth certificate or registered marriage certificate to prove their link
with their parents.
Applicants applying on the basis of their spouse:

Foreign Passport,

Naturalization Certificate

Spouses OCI/PIO Card copy,

Spouse's Surrender Certificate/valid Indian Passport,

Registered Marriage Certificate

Applicants full version birth certificate

Four passport size photographs
Please note that applicants of Iranian origin can apply for PIO only on the basis of their
parents/grandparents’ Indian origin proof.
Please Note:
o
One can apply PIO Card on the basis of spouse only after completion of one year
of marriage (after registration).
o
A Notary affidavit from a Notary Public i is required if applicant is born in India
and he/she is unable to produce surrender certificate (if naturalised before May
31, 2010). For those applicants who were naturalized after 31st May, 2010, a
surrender certificate is compulsory.
o
All documents including passports must be furnished in original at the time of
submission of application, once the application is accepted the original
documents would be returned to the applicant immediately, only notarized
affidavits if submitted would be retained in original.
o
Post dated birth certificate from Municipality/Panchayat etc. should invariably be
certified by the Indian First Class Magistrate/District Commissioner or
Collector/District Magistrate of the area with name, stamp, seal and contact
telephone numbers with area code for verification.
o
School leaving certificate from a recognized Board. However, the post dated
school certificate/school leaving certificate from India should be authenticated by
Director of Education/First Class Magistrate/District Magistrate/Deputy
Commissioner or Collector of the area with name, stamp, seal and contact
telephone numbers with area code for verification.
o
A copy of authorized English translation of the Birth Certificate/School
Certificate/Marriage Certificate if it is not in English/Hindi should accompany such
documents.
o
If the applicant is making application on the basis of documents of parents or
grandparents, documentary relationship proof must be provided.
o
Change of name/ appearance affidavit if required, by Embassy/Notary
Public/Oath Commissioner.
o
Thumb impression in the box on application form is required in case of minor
applicants or Signature if minor can sign. It may be clarified that in case of male
the left thumb impression and in case of female right thumb impression would be
required.
o
Four recent passport size photograph (35 mm by 45 mm size) of the applicant
Submission of application:
Applications for PIO service will be accepted at the Consular Section of the Embassy
between 1000 hrs to 1200 hours on all working days.
Applicant who are in India
Applicant already in India on Long-Term Visa (more than one year) should make the application
for issue of a PIO Card to the following authorities:
DELHI: Foreigners Regional Registration Officer,
Hans Bhawan, I.P. Estate, New Delhi 110 002.
Tel: 91-11-331 9489 Fax: 91-11-375 5183
MUMBAI:
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annexe II,
Commissioner of Police, Crawford Market, Mumbai 400001.
Tel: 91-22-262 1169 Fax: 91-22-262 0721
CALCUTTA: Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237,
Acharya J.C. Bose Road, Calcutta 700020.
Tel: 91-33-247 3301 Fax: 91-33-247 0549
CHENNAI: Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration,
Shastri Bhavan Annexe, No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 600006
Tel: 91-44-827 7036 Fax: 91-44-827 7036
Those residing in the other partS of India:
Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, 1st Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan
Market, New Delhi 110 003. The e-mail ID of the Under Secretary(OCI/PIO) is:
anand.joshi@nic.in
Tel: 91-11-469 3334 Fax: 91-11-462 1563