Difference Between PIO and OCI - Complete and Updated info (2024)

FAQs

Difference Between PIO and OCI - Complete and Updated info? ›

Additionally, OCI cardholders are also eligible for scholarships and other educational benefits provided by the Indian government. In summary, PIO cardholders have limited rights and privileges, while OCI cardholders have more extensive rights and can stay in India indefinitely with more benefits.

OCI cardholders do not need an employment visa and can permanently settle in India. They will not have any restrictions in employment apart from sectors that need special Protected and Restricted area permits. PIO Card holders do not need an employment visa.

All PIO cardholders are meanwhile advised to convert their PIO cards to OCI cards well in time. Any request for conversion of PIO card to OCI card will attract a fee of $100.

PIO Card Validity Extended up to December 31, 2024

Indian Immigration will accept all Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards (including handwritten ones) along with valid foreign passport, as valid travel document till December 31, 2024, instead of earlier deadline of December 31, 2023.

OCI Card Reissue Guidelines

(i) OCI cardholder is required to upload ONLINE a copy of the new passport and a recent photo (not more than 30 days old) each time a new passport is issued. The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport.

If PIO holder wanted to become Indian citizen, he can do so after being ordinary resident of India for 7 years but OCI holder can apply for citizenship after 5 years and out of which must have stayed in India only for at least 1 year.

It is not a travel document and should not be considered a DUAL CITIZENSHIP. The negative is no voting rights and holding of agricultural land is prohibited. As an OCI is not dual. citizenship the holder is not eligible for any grants subsidies which are available to Indian citizen.

There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to/from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgment of his/her documents in the online system.

All OCI/PIO card holders are permitted to travel to India irrespective of their nationalities. OCI Cards to be renewed only once in life after the attaining the age of 20 years and getting a new passport. Renewal of OCI card for those who obtained OCI after 20 years of age is not required.

Presently, the OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age, in view of biological changes in the face of the applicant.

When was Pio card discontinued? ›

PIO Card Validity Extended up to December 31, 2024

Indian Immigration will accept all Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards (including handwritten ones) along with valid foreign passport, as valid travel document till December 31, 2024, instead of earlier deadline of December 31, 2023.

The Government of India has decided that the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) will continue to accept PIO cards as valid travel document till 31.12. 2024 alongwith valid foreign passport and the Indian Immigration Check Post(s) will continue to consider all PIO cards valid for exit/entry into India till December 31, 2024.

PIO cardholders can continue to use their cards as valid travel documents (together with a valid foreign passport) until December 31, 2024.

A: You will be allowed entry into India if you have a valid OCI Card and a valid foreign passport. You do not need to carry the old passport on which your "U” (OCI) Visa was stamped, if that happens to be different from your current passport.

To update new passport particulars towards existing OCI card, please follow below process. Apply under OCI Miscellaneous Service online at https://ociservices.gov.in/ Click on "Fill New Miscellaneous Application" Select option "Passport particulars updation" under “GRATIS” service.

1. OCI Cardholders are not allowed to vote, to serve in the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, or Parliament, to hold constitutional positions such as President, Vice President, Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, or to work for the government in any capacity. 2.

A: OCI card holders can purchase residential and commercial properties in India. But they are not permitted to purchase agricultural land, including farmland or any kind of plantation property. Q: Can a foreign national of non-Indian origin resident outside India purchase immovable property in India?

In the event of continuous stay in India exceeding 180 days, the PIO Cardholder must get himself/herself registered, within 30 days of the expiry of 180 day, with the concerned jurisdictional FRRO/FRO. ii. The grant of a PIO Card does NOT entitle the cardholder to visit a restricted / protected area.

All Indian-origin foreign citizens holding PIO cards, machine readable and handwritten, make sure to convert their PIO card to an OCI card in the meantime. Since the process takes 3-4 months, the sooner the better.

NRI and PIO

An Indian citizen resident outside India or a PIO does not require any special permission to buy immovable property in India. However, no payment of the purchase price can be made in foreign currency.