Person of Indian Origin Card
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card) is a form of identification issued to a Person of Indian Origin who hold a passport in another country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Other conditions are:
- person at any time held an Indian passport or;
- person's parents or grand parents or great grand parents were born in and permanent residents in India, but not moved to Pakistan and Bangladesh or;
- person is spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin as per above.
It came into force with effect from 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 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.
- 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] See also
[edit] External links
- Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) - CARD SCHEME, at indianembassy.org
- India Visa Information

