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Persons of Indian Origin
(PIO) - CARD SCHEME
The Government has announced the launching of a People of Indian
Origin Card, which will allow visa free entry to Indian origin people
living abroad and give them all the rights enjoyed by Non-Resident
Indians (NRIs) including purchase of non-agricultural land. 15 million
people of Indian origin living abroad will benefit from the Card.
The fee is US $ 1,000 and is valid for 20 years. However, it would
not be issued to people of Indian origin living in Pakistan and
Bangladesh. It does not give voting rights to the holders of the
Card. It is eligible for the Indians who hold a foreign passport
living abroad till the fourth generation. The PIO Card holder would
be exempt from registration if his stay in India does not exceed
180 days. However, if the stay exceeds 180 days, the PIO Card holder
will have to register within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with
the concerned Foreigners Registration Officer at district headquarters.
The right to buy property would not be valid to Jammu & Kashmir.
The PIO Card holder would be able to admit their children to educational
institution in India under the NRI category. These include the IITs
and Indian institutes of Management. They can also benefit from
housing schemes of the Life Insurance Corporation, State Governments
and other Government agencies.
THE PRESS RELEASE AND GAZETTE NOTIFICATION
ON PIO CARD FOLLOWS: -
Understanding the sentiments of persons of Indian origin to be
closer to their original country and to reinforce their emotional
bonds, as well as respecting their desire to participate in the
development of the resolve to frame a special scheme. This resolve
was translated in the first Budget Speech of FM: -
"Government have decided to draw up a scheme for issuance of a
Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card for those living abroad and
having foreign passports. The PIO Card, which would be extended
to Persons of Indian Origin settled in countries to be specified
by Government would besides introducing a visa free regime, also
confer some special economic, educational, financial and cultural
benefits. The details are being worked out".
The Government has today launched a comprehensive Scheme for the
Persons of Indian Origin - called the "PIO Card Scheme". Under this
scheme, Persons of Indian Origin up to the fourth generation (great
grand parents) settled throughout the world, except for a few specified
countries, would be eligible. The Card would be issued to eligible
applicants through the concerned Indian Embassies/ High Commissions/
Consulates and for those staying in India on long term visa, the
concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (Delhi, Mumbai,
Calcutta, and Chennai) would be the same.
The fee for the card, which will have a validity of 20 years, would
be US $1000.
Besides making their journey back to their roots simpler, easier
and smoother, this Scheme entitles the PIOs to a wide range of economic,
financial, educational and cultural benefits. The benefits envisaged
under the Scheme include: -
(i) No requirement of visa to visit India:
(ii) No requirement to register with the Foreigners Registration
Officer if continuous stay does not exceed 180 days. If continuos
stay exceeds 180 days, then registration is required to be done
within a period of 30 days of the expiry of 180 days:
(iii) Parity with Non-Resident Indians in respect of facilities
available to the latter in economic, financial, educational fields,
etc. These facilities will include:-
(a) Acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of immovable
properties in India except of agricultural/plantation properties;
(b) admission of children in educational institutions
in India under the general category quota for NRIs - including medical
/ engineering college, IITs, IIMs etc.
(c) various housing schemes of Life Insurance Corporation
of India, State Governments and other Government agencies;
(iv) All future benefits that would be extended to NRIs would also
be available to the PIO Card holders;
(v) However, they shall not enjoy political rights in India.
The above steps would go a long way in renewing and strengthening
the emotional bond amongst PIOs with the land of their origin. The
attractive features of the Scheme will further exhort them to play
an increasingly constructive role in the socio-economic and cultural
development of the country of their origin.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS NOTIFICATION
(i) This scheme may be called the Scheme for issuance of Person
of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card).
(ii) It shall come into force with effect from 31st March 1999.
2. Definition - In this scheme, unless the context otherwise requires.
(a) "Indian Mission" means the Embassy of Indian/ 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 a 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 citizens of any of the 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. Form of application for issue/ renewal of a PIO Card:-
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 application is a person of Indian origin
as defined.
4. Authority to which application is to be made:-
(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) 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, Hans Bhavan, I.P.Estate
New Delhi - 110002.
(b) Mumbai
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annex II, Commissioner
of Police, Craw Ford Market, Mumbai - 400001.
(c) Calcutta
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237, Acharya Jagdish
Calcutta - 700020
(d) Chennai
Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan
Annex, No.26, Haddows Road, Chennai- 600006.
(B) Those residing in areas other than (A) above:-
Joint Secretary (Foreigners). Ministry of Home Affairs, 1st 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, Calcutta of the
Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai.
6. Validity of PIO Card:-
A PIO Card shall be valid for a period of twenty years
subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.
7. Fee:-
A fee of US $1000,
inclusive of US $250 (non-refundable) as processing fee, will be
payable along with the application. In case of rejection of the
application, US $750 shall alone be refunded to the applicant.
8. Facilities to be extended to a PIO Card holder:-
(i) A PIO Card holder shall not require a visa to visit
India.
(ii) A PIO Card holder will be exempted from the requirement of
registration if his stay in India does not exceed 180 days.
(iii) 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 Registration Officer at District Headquarter.
(iv) A PIO Card holder 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. Cancellation of PIO Card:-
The Central Government may by order, cancel the 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, ammunitions
etc, or has been sentenced for committing an offense punishable
with imprisonment up to one year or fine up to rupees ten thousand;or
(e) it is not conducive to the public interest that the person should
continue to hold a a PIO Card.
No reasons shall be assigned for withdrawal of the Card.
For more Info.:
PIO-Ministry
of External affairs
http://www.indianembassy.org/policy/PIO/Introduction_PIO.html
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