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PIO CARD
Issuance of
PIO Card in India
A special facility
other than visa for incoming travellers.
The Government of India has
introduced a PIO card understanding and respecting
the need for Indians to be close to their place
of origin and has accordingly launched the ‘PIO
CARD’ scheme, aimed at making the journey
back to their roots, simpler, easier, flexible
and absolutely hassle-free. The ‘PIO CARD’
will entitle a person to a set of privileges.
The
following persons are eligible:
The benefits
accrued to a PIO card holder are:
- No visa required for visiting
India.
- No separate “Student
Visa” or “Employment Visa” required
for admissions in Colleges/Institutions or for
taking up employment respectively.
- 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 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 Regional
Registration Officer / Foreigners Registration
Officer
- Parity with non-resident
Indians in respect of facilities available to
the latter in economic, financial and educational
field.
- All PIOs including PIO Card
holders shall 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 maters relating
to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation
properties. No parity shall be allowed in the
sphere of political rights.
- Facilities available to
children of NRIs for getting admission to educational
institutions in India including medical colleges,
engineering colleges, Institute of Technology,
Institute of Management, etc. under the general
categories.
- Facilities available under
the various housing scheme of LIC, State Government
and other Government Agencies.
- Special counters at
the immigration check posts for speedy clearance
How to apply
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. Prescribed application from
can be obtained from the office of Indian Embassies
abroad, Foreign Regional Registration Officer,
Delhi/ Mumbai/ Kolkata/ Chennai/ Amritsar and
also from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners
Division, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110
003.
Where to apply for PIO card
(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) Applications 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:-
(A) Those residing
in :-
(a) Delhi: - Foreigners Regional Registration
Officer,
Level –II, East Block VIII,
R.K. Puram Sector – I, New Delhi.
(b) Mumbai: - Foreigners
Regional Registration Officer,
Annexe – II, Commissioner of Police,
Craw Ford Market, Mumbai – 400001.
(c) Kolkata: - Foreigners
Regional Registration Officer,
237, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Road,
Kolkata – 700020.
(d) Amritsar: - Additional
Deputy Director,
Bureau of Immigration ,
B/123 Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar.
(e) Chennai: - Chief Immigration
Officer,
Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan Annexe,
No. 26, Haddows Road, Chennai – 600006.
(Those residing in areas
other than (A) above :-
Joint Secretary (Foreigners),
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Jaisalmer House, 26, Man Singh Road,
New Delhi – 110011.
Validity
of the PIO card
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.
More details
on the PIO
Card scheme
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