A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card was a long-term visa issued to foreign citizens with Indian ancestry. It was not issued to nationals of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. PIO cards were issued to individuals who had held an Indian passport or whose spouse or parents held an Indian passport. PIO holders are not Indian citizens but have Indian ancestry, while Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are PIOs who have obtained OCI cards, making them eligible for certain rights and privileges. All PIO cards have been replaced by OCI cards, as PIO cardholders are encouraged to convert their cards by the December 31, 2023 deadline.
The PIO card scheme was discontinued on November 30, 2021, with the OCI card scheme taking its place. PIO Cards issued prior remain valid until expiry. The validity for all PIO cards has been extended as valid documents until December 31, 2023, even those that are handwritten. Following the Gazette Orders, applications for PIO cards stopped, and free conversions to OCI were permitted until the extended deadline. PIO cardholders are advised to convert to OCI cards, which offer lifetime validity and other significant benefits. Applications can be submitted to Indian embassies or local FRROs.
To ensure a smooth transition, applicants must prepare their documents for conversion and mail their applications to authorized centers. The processing time for OCI card applications typically ranges from 5 to 6 weeks. Natvisa can assist travelers needing an e-Visa for urgent trips to India during OCI applications. The consolidation of PIO and OCI cards simplifies the visa process for individuals of Indian origin. Important to note, this consolidation aims to streamline procedures and ensure all eligible individuals enjoy equal access to benefits.
