PIO Card Services

Person of Indian Origin card (PIO Card Scheme 2002)

Who is a 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 Indian Passport; or
  • Any person who was born in or was permanently resident in India as defined in Government of India Act, 1935 and other territories that became part of India thereafter, or whose parents or grandparents were so born/were so resident provided neither was at any time a citizen of Afghanistan,Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; or
  • Any person who is a spouse of a citizen of India or of a person of Indian origin as mentioned above.

Who is eligible to apply for a PIO card?

Any person meeting any of the above definitions of a PIO, except nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is eligible to apply for a PIO card.

What benefits accrue to a PIO card holder?

  • 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 matters 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 (pio_form.pdf Download PIO Card Form) and shall be accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined. For very young children, thumb impression may be put in place of signatures in the application form.

Other requirements:

  • Existing (valid) passport in original;
  • Expired Indian passport/travel document(s) of the applicant or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents in original;
  • All other relevant documents that may be helpful in establishing Indian origin which may include, inter alia, revenue records, domicile certificate/school or college leaving certificates, Indian Birth certificate of the applicant and of the parents or grand parents of the applicant etc., Nationality certificates of the applicant and of the parents or grand parents;
  • In case of application on behalf of children below 18 years of age, Indian Passports of parents along with birth certificate and necessary affidavit (affidavit_pio.pdf Download Affidavit PIO Card Form);
  • Those applying as spouses of persons of Indian origin should submit original Indian passport or PIO card (whichever is applicable) of the spouse and marriage certificate;
  • Three recent passport size photographs, 3.5mm x 3.5 mm with a light background;
  • If spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin is applying for PIO card, an undertaking from both will be required stating that in case if separation/ divorce the PIO card will be surrendered for cancellation;
  • Please send a Self Addressed Express Post/ Registered Post/ Platinum Express Envelope in case you wish the completed documents to be returned to you by post.
  • Applicable fee

Where to apply for the PIO Card?

Those resident in Victoria and Tasmania should apply to?the Indian Passport and Visa Service Centre (IP&VSC) in Melbourne?(click here for contact details)?

Processing Time

Four weeks.

What is the 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. In other words, the PIO card shall be valid only if the passport held by the individual is valid on a particular date. After issuance of the PIO card, if the holder is issued a new passport, he should get the details of the new passport endorsed on the PIO card.

What is the fee payable for obtaining the PIO Card

The fee for a PIO Card would be A$570.00 + A$18 (Service?Charge of IP&VSC)?for adults and A$285.00 +?A$18 (Service?Charge of IP&VSC)?for children below 18 years payable along with the application. The fee would be payable by Bank Cheque or Money Order in favour of "VFS Australia Pty Ltd". Cash payments are accepted only at counter.

What will be the status of PIO Cards issued earlier as per PIO Card Scheme (1999)?

PIO Cards issued earlier for US $1000 will continue to remain valid and no refund shall be admissible. However, the validity of such cards shall be extendable by 10 more years without charging any fee.

Acquisition of duplicate PIO Card in case of loss etc.

On a request supported by FIR and other documents, a duplicate PIO card shall be issued on depositing a fee equivalent of AUD $141.00 +?A$18 (Service?Charge of IP&VSC). Duplicate PIO cards will be issued by the same office that issued the original one.

Cancellation of PIO Card

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

  1. the PIO Card was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact ;or
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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 up to one year or fine up to rupees ten thousand; or
  5. it is not conductive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card.
  6. No reasons shall be assigned for cancellation of the Card.
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