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OCI & Overseas Citizenship
Difference Between PIO and OCI Card: Complete Details
Table of Contents
- Quick Overview: Difference Between OCI and PIO Card
- Who is a PIO?
- Who is an OCI?
- What is the Difference Between PIO and OCI?
- What are the Advantages of PIO Card?
- What are the Advantages of OCI Card?
- What are the Restrictions of OCI and PIO Cards?
- Documents Required to Apply for an OCI Card
- Conclusion
Table of Contents
A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) are individuals who are still connected to India/ Indians after being foreign nationals. As dual citizenship is not allowed in India, these individuals apply for PIO or OCI cards, which grant them certain rights and benefits in India.
In this blog, we have mentioned the difference between the PIO and OCI cards in detail. Begin by understanding the PIO and OCI cards separately, then identify their differences. Despite being very similar, these two cards have some key differences.
Quick Overview: Difference Between OCI and PIO Card
- OCI and PIO cards were issued to foreign nationals of Indian origin or former Indian passport holders.
- Cardholders receive benefits such as lifelong visa-free travel to India, multiple-entry privileges, and investment opportunities.
- Since January 2015, the Indian government has merged the PIO scheme with OCI, and PIO cards are no longer issued.
- Individuals of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin are not eligible for OCI cards.
Who is a PIO?
PIO (Person of Indian Origin) refers to a person who is not an Indian citizen but has Indian ancestry, such as having previously held an Indian passport or having parents or grandparents who were Indian citizens. Individuals married to Indian citizens may also qualify.
PIO status offered benefits for travel, education, and business in India. However, citizens of Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan were not eligible for a PIO card.
NOTE: The PIO scheme has been merged with the OCI scheme to make the process easier as of January 2015. The government is planning to phase out the PIO scheme, as the new PIO cards will no longer be issued. Older cardholders must be converted to OCI cards.
Who is an OCI?
The OCI full form is Overseas Citizen of India. It refers to a foreign national who was an Indian citizen or became eligible to be an Indian citizen on or after 26 January 1950. It also includes those individuals who come from a place that eventually became a part of India after 15 August 1947. The descendants of such individuals can also apply for OCI status. However, individuals with Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizenship are not eligible for an OCI card.
Currently, OCI is the only active scheme for foreign nationals who are connected with India and want to maintain the connection. However, an OCI card provides many rights and privileges in India, but it is not equal to Indian citizenship.
What is the Difference Between PIO and OCI?
The following table mentions the difference between OCI and PIO card:
PIO Card
- Eligibility: Former Indian passport holders, people of Indian origin, and their spouses.
- Validity: Valid for 15 years.
- FRRO Registration: Required only if staying in India for more than 180 days.
- Benefits: Visa-free travel, and the right to live, study, work, conduct business, and own property (except agricultural land).
- Issuance: Discontinued and replaced by the OCI Card. Existing PIO cards must be converted to OCI cards.
OCI Card
- Eligibility: Former Indian citizens, eligible Indian citizenship holders, individuals from territories that became part of India after 15 August 1947, and their descendants.
- Validity: Lifetime validity.
- FRRO Registration: No registration required regardless of stay duration.
- Benefits: Lifelong visa-free travel, multiple entries, and the right to live, study, work, conduct business, and own property (except agricultural land).
- Issuance: Continues to be issued to eligible applicants.
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However, the PIO card has been discontinued and is no longer issued. Understanding its advantages will help you know the difference between PIO and OCI card better.
Here are the benefits:
- The cardholder can visit India visa-free for up to 15 years from the date of issuance of the PIO card.
- They can access financial, educational, and healthcare institutions in the country.
- They can make their PAN account, open a bank account, have a driver's license, and more.
- They are exempt from registering with the FRROs or FROPs for stays less than 180 days. For longer stays, they have to register themselves.
- PIOs have equal rights to those of NRIs. Hence, they can own properties (except agricultural land) and invest in Indian businesses.
What are the Advantages of OCI Card?
The OCI cardholders enjoy many benefits that make it easy for them to stay connected to India. Here are the advantages of OCI card:
- The OCI card acts as a lifetime, multiple-entry visa to India. There is no need for repeated visa applications.
- OCI cardholders are not required to register with the FRRO authorities when visiting India, no matter how long they stay.
- OCIs enjoy rights on par with NRIs in terms of financial, economic, and educational benefits.
- They can also own a property in India, except for agricultural land.
- They are also eligible to buy financial products in India. They can invest in Indian market-linked instruments; they can opt for ULIP or other equity-focused options.
What are the Restrictions of OCI and PIO Cards?
Here are some of the limitations that an OCI or PIO cardholder has to face:
- They are not allowed to own agricultural property in India.
- They cannot vote in indian elections or be elected to constitutional or parliamentary offices.
- They cannot carry out missionary or research work unless they have permission to do so.
- They cannot hold any kind of government jobs.
- They are restricted from traveling to certain areas unless they have a permit for it.
Apart from this, the individuals must keep the regulations and laws of their home country in mind. It should be mentioned in the legal norms of their home country whether they can hold an OCI card or not.
Documents Required to Apply for an OCI Card
You must submit the following documents to apply for OCI card and enjoy its benefits:
- Indian Passport
- Current Passport
- Proof of Indian origin, if applicable
- Proof of relationship to the Indian ancestor
- Birth Certificate
- Passport-sized Photograph
- Filled-out application form
If you are converting to OCI from the PIO scheme, then you will have to submit your existing PIO card.
Conclusion
While there are some differences between the PIO card and OCI card, they both refer to individuals who want to maintain a connection to India. If the foreign nationals with indian ties want to enjoy the benefits in India and invest in the country's developing economy, they are eligible to apply for an OCI card. This can ensure smoother access to travel, financial services, and long-term opportunities in India.
You may also go for the online service providers, such as Visament, to apply for an OCI card. Our experts have many years of experience in this field, and they can apply on your behalf. You can enjoy our trusted OCI service from the comfort of your home.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Person of Indian Origin cards are still valid in India till December 31, 2024.
Yes, PIO can become an Indian citizen if they register as an OCI.
Yes, PIO are able to own property in India subject to certain conditions.
OCI cardholders can live in India for an unlimited period of time.
The OCI cardholders do not have the right to vote in Indian elections and cannot work in government sectors. Additionally, they do not have the permission to be a member of the Legislative Council, Legislative Assembly, or Parliament, and cannot hold constitutional posts such as the Supreme Court or High Court judge, President, or Vice President.
PIOs are people of Indian origin who are citizens of countries other than India. An individual is eligible to apply for a PIO card if he/she at had an Indian passport, his/ her parents, grandparents, or great grandparents were born or permanently lived in India, or belonged to a territory that, on and after 15 August 1947, became part of India.
Yes, with an OCI card, you can live permanently in India. An OCI card provides cardholders the right to live in India for an indefinite time and visa-free travel. In addition, allow the individuals to enter the country multiple times for multiple purposes.
No, an OCI card is not valid without a passport. Although the card provides visa-free travel to India to the cardholders. However, one should have a valid passport by their side from the country they are currently a citizen of to use it with an OCI card.
Yes, you can apply for an OCI or PIO card online. However, you cannot apply for PIO cards since the scheme is discontinued by the Indian government and merged with the OCI card, so you can only apply for the OCI card. To do so, you can use the Indian government OCI services website. Through this, you can fill out the application form, submit the required documents, pay the applicable fee online, and book an appointment with the Indian consulate or embassy for your biometrics data and physical submission of the application.
PIO and OCI cardholders do not have permission to vote in Indian elections, they cannot purchase any plantation property, and hold government jobs. In addition, they need permission to visit restricted and preserved areas. Also, do not participate in Indian elections or hold any constitutional positions.
