PIO Meaning

A PIO or Person of Indian Origin is a foreign national who is not a citizen of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, or Nepal. It means a PIO can be a citizen of any country other than Afghanistan, China, Iran, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, or Pakistan who held an Indian Passport in the past or has parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who were citizens of India as defined by the Government of India Act 1935. The status of a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) can also extend to the spouse of an Indian citizen or another individual holding PIO status.

Benefits of PIO Card

PIO or Person of Indian Origin cardholders have so many benefits as mentioned below:

• Holders of PIO cards are entitled to visa-free travel to India for up to 15 years from the card’s issuance.
• During their stay in India, they can remain for up to 180 days without the need to register with the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
• They are permitted to pursue studies or employment at private institutions in India without requiring a specialized visa.
• Enjoying equivalent financial and economic privileges as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
• Their children are eligible for admission to Indian educational institutions, including prestigious ones like medical and engineering colleges, Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), and the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), under the same quota as NRIs.
• They have the freedom to hold, transfer, dispose of, and acquire various forms of immovable properties, with the exception of plantation and agricultural properties.
• They are exempted from registering with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO)/Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for stays under 180 days. However, if their stay exceeds 180 days, they must register with FRRO/FRO within 30 days thereafter.

Limitations of PIO Card

Though there are so many facilities with them a PIO card holder has to face some notable restrictions also:

• Employment rights in Government of India undertakings are restricted for them.
• Holding any constitutional office in the Government of India is prohibited for them.
• Acquiring any agricultural land, plantation property, or a farm home is not permitted for them.
• Their right to vote is denied.
• Prior permission is mandatory for engaging in missionary activities, mountaineering, research positions, or visiting restricted areas of India.

Read More :

• Government of India Act 1935
• NRI Full Form
• Fundamental Rights in Indian Constitution
• World’s Most Powerful Passport Rankings (2024)

PIO and OCI both are legal terms that are generally used for foreign citizens of Indian origin. A PIO is a person who was an Indian citizen on 26th January 1950 or later or was an eligible person to become a citizen of India on 26th January 1950. On the other side, an OCI is a person who is registered as an Overseas Citizen of India.

In this article, we are going to learn PIO and OCI in detail and their major differences.