PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card Scheme

1. Short Title and Commencement:

(i) This Scheme may be called the Scheme for issuance of Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO) Scheme, 2002.

(ii) It shall come into force with effect from 15^th September, 2002.

2. Definition:-

In this scheme, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a) “Indian Mission” means Embassy of India/High Commission of India/Indian Consulate in a foreign country.

(b) “Person 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 he 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.

3. Application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card:-

An application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card shall be made in the prescribed form (available at the link “Download Forms”) and shall be accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined.

4. Authority to which application can be submitted:-

(i) An application for issue of a PIO Card shall be made to an Indian Mission/Post 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 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.

(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.

(B) Those residing in areas other than (A) above:-

Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, Ist Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110003.

5. Authority to grant a PIO Card:

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

6. Validity of 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 (foreign) of the applicant. For endorsement of new passport number in the PIO card, pl see point No.13 below.

7. Amount of Fee & Mode of Payment:

(i) Fee: Adult : (i) US $: 365.00 (ii) Minor : US $ 185.00

(ii) Mode: (i) by mail: Cashier Check or Postal Order or Money order drawn in favor of Consulate General of India, Chicago.

(ii) in person: Cash or cashier check or postal order or money order.

Note: Fee once paid is non-refundable in any situation. Payment through personal check or credit/debit cards is not accepted.

8. Facilities to a PIO Card Holder:

(i) Shall not require a separate visa to visit India.

(ii) Exempted from registration with FRRO if the visit is less than 180 days.

(iii) In case the stay need to be extended beyond 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.

(iv) All PIOs including PIO Card holders, 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.

9. Extn of validity of old PIO Cards:

PIO Cards issued under the Scheme notified in 1999 for a fee of US $ 1000 will continue to remain valid. While no refund shall be available to such Card holders, the validity of such cards is extendable for a further period of 10 years without any charges.

10. Cancellation of PIO Card:

The Central Government may, by order, cancel a PIO Card, if it is satisfied that:

(a) the PIO Card was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or

(b) the PIO Card holder has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected towards the Constitution of India and other laws of India; or

(c) 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

(d) the PIO Card holder has been sentenced in India for indulging in acts of terrorism, smuggling of narcotics, arms, ammunition etc. or has been sentenced for committing an offence punishable with imprisonment upto one year or fine upto rupees ten thousand; or

(e) it is not conductive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card. No reasons shall be assigned for cancellation of the Card.

11. Documents to be submitted for issue of PIO Card

1. Application form (two copies) duly filled in and signed by the applicant. (Download a form, fill it up, except signature and photograph, make a copy and then put signature (or thumb impression if the applicant is not in a position to sign) and paste a photo on each copy.

2. Signature: In case of minor or if the applicant cannot sign, pl obtain Right Hand Thumb impression for female and Left Hand Thumb impression for male applicant. Parents should not sign on behalf of minor applicants. PL DO NOT FORGET TO PUT SIGNATURE (THUMB IMPRESSION IF APPLICANT CANNOT SIGN) IN THE BOXES PROVIDED FOR SPECIMEN SIGNATURE AT THE END OF THE APPLICATION AS WELL AS AT THE END OF THE APPLICATION.

3. Photograph: 5 photographs are required – one to be pasted on each application (first on original and second on the copy) and remaining 3 to be stappled.

4. Size of photograph: 35 mm x 35 mm (without border) with full front view against white/light background.

5. Proof of present citizenship – notarized copies of first two and last two pages of foreign passport (notarization not required if application is being submitted in person or passport is enclosed in original **).

6. Proof of Indian citizenship: notarized photocopies of first two and last two pages of Indian Passport (notarization not required if application is being submitted in person or passport is enclosed in original**). If Indian Passport is still valid, the same may be sent for cancellation.

If parents/grand-parents origin is being claimed as basis for grant of PIO Card, following documents may be furnished:

· Notarized copies of first two and last two pages of BOTH parents passports OR copies of their domicile certificates issued by the competent authorities

· Evidence of relationship with the applicant

7. Address in India – if the address indicated in the passport of the applicant/parents/grand parents is no longer valid, please furnish verifiable address of a close relative.

8. Local address: copy of I/card or driving license or utility bill or lease deed etc

9. Birth Certificate (if applicant borne abroad) – notarized copy of birth certificate.

10. Fee: Adult : $365 ; children under 15 yrs: $185/- (add $ 20/- if holding passport other than of USA) in the form of Cashier Check or Money Order or Postal Order drawn in favour of Consulate General of India Chicago.

11. Mailing charges: $ 20/- for express mail (add $ 1 for each addl applicant) or $ 10/- by certified mail (add $ 1 for each additional applicant). Express Mail reduces time in both directions. However, applications are processed in the order of their receipt in the Consulate irrespective of class of mail.

12. Processing period : 20 w/days days from the date of receipt of application in Consulate plus mailing period of 2 days.

Application Form : Click on “Download Forms” at home page and select PIO Card form. Pl comply with above instructions and ignore the instructions contained in PDF form.

NOTE**: CONSULATE WILL NOT BEAR ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OF DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING PASSPORTS, AFTER DESPATCH. TO AVOID LOSS OF PASSPORTS WHILE IN MAIL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, NOTARISED COPIES HAVE BEEN REQUESTED.

13. Endorsement of new passport number in the PIO Card

New passport number can be got endorsed in the PIO card by presenting at the counter the old and new passports and PIO card or can be mailed with a forwarding letter. There is no fee for the service. However, by mail the procedure may taken 7 to 10 days. If presented in person between 9 am to 12.30 pm, the service is rendered the same day.

In case the holder cannot spare time to get the endorsement done in the PIO card, due to urgent travel, he/she carry both, the new and the old passport, alongwith PIO card for smooth check in/out at immigration points.

14. Important Notes:

i. Applications not fulfilling requirements stated above, will be returned at applicant’s cost without any notice.

ii Photographs should be duly pasted at designated place in the first and second copy. Three remaining copies of photographs should be stappled on the first copy.

UPDTD: 01.15.07

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