Persons of Indian Origin holding foreign passports, with some exceptions, are eligible to be issued a PIO Card with long terms validity. PIO Card offers considerable benefits for its holder in visiting India.

Eligibility for PIO Card  : A person of Indian origin is entitled for PIO Card 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 or (iii) he/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered (i) & (ii) above. However in this case the minimum period of living as husband and wife is one year. The applicant will have to give an undertaking that he/she has been living for the last one year as husband/wife. If any foreigner obtains a PIO Card by virtue of being a spouse of an Indian national or of a PIO, and later on he/she divorces the Indian/PIO spouse, it becomes obligatory on the part of the Indian/PIO spouse to inform the Embassy in this regard.

Form of application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card  : An application for issue/renewal of a PIO Card is to be made in the prescribed form which could be obtained from Consular/Visa Section of the Embassy and is to be accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined. The applicant is also required to submit his passport along with the application.

Validity of PIO Card  : A PIO Card is valid for a period of fifteen years from the date of issue subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

Fee of PIO Card  : Fee for PIO Card could be ascertained directly from the Consular/Visa Section

Facilities enjoyed by a PIO Card Holder  : (i) A PIO Card holder shall not require a separate visa to visit India; (ii) A PIO Card holder will be exempted from the requirement of registration if his stay on any single visit 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 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.