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Clarification regarding PIO cards

Posted on: October 09, 2018 | Back | Print

Consulate General of India
Dubai
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October 09, 2018

PRESS RELEASE

Clarification regarding PIO Cards

Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has clarified that all PIO cardholders with valid PIO cards as on 09.01.2015 are deemed to be OCI cardholders. Hence the PIO card, which is a deemed OCI card continues to be legally valid as per law. However, all PIO cardholders with valid PIO cards are advised to apply for conversion of their PIO card to OCI card.

2.        Indian immigration authorities will accept PIO cards as valid document till March 31, 2019 alongwith valid foreign passport. In the meantime, if any deadline is notified by the ICAO, thereby making hand written PIO cards invalid (due to ICAO guidelines regarding machine readable travel documents) then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from our Consulates/Embassies, if they have not converted their PIO card to OCI card.

3.        In view of the above, it is confirmed that the Indian immigration checkposts will consider all PIO cards valid for exit/entry into India till 31st March, 2019. Situation would be reviewed in March, 2019 and appropriate instructions will be issued later on.

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