Embassy of India  

 The Hague

The Netherlands
    

PERSONS OF INDIAN ORIGIN CARD SCHEME

 

  1. Understanding the sentiments of persons of Indian origin to be closer to their original country and to reinforce their emotional bonds, as well as respecting their desire to participate in the development of the country of their origin, the Government of India made an earnest resolve to frame a special scheme. The Government has launched a comprehensive Scheme for the Persons of Indian Origin – called the “PIO Card Scheme”. Under this Scheme, Persons of Indian Origin upto the fourth generation (great grand parents) settled throughout the world, except for a few specified countries are eligible. The Card is issued to eligible applicants residing in The Netherlands by the Embassy of India, The Hague and for those staying in India on long term visa, the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officers.

  2. The fee for the PIO card, which has a validity of 15 years, is  Euros 375  to be paid along with the application. The PIO Card will be valid only if accompanied with a valid passport.

  1. Besides making their journey back to their roots simpler, easier and smoother, this scheme entitles the PIOs to a wide range of economic, financial, educational and cultural benefits. The benefits envisaged under the Scheme includes: -

                  a.      No requirement of visa to visit India for 15 years;

b.      No requirement to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer if continuous stay does not exceed 180 days. If continuous stay exceeds 180 days, then registration is required to be done within a period of 30 days of the expiry of 180 days;

c.      Parity with Non-Resident Indians in respect of facilities available to the latter in economic, financial, educational fields etc. These facilities include:-

                                                         i.           Acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of Immovable properties in India except of agricultural/plantation properties;

                                                       ii.           Admission of children in educational institutions in India under the general category quota for NRIs – including medical/engineering colleges, IITs, IIMs etc.;

                                                      iii.           Various housing schemes of Life Insurance Corporation of India, State Governments and other Government agencies;

                                                      iv.           PIO cardholder can also take up employment in India without prior permission from Government of India unless otherwise specifically provided by other Ministries/ Departments (e.g. Department of Company Affairs’ approval is required for board level appointments etc).

                                                        v.           All future benefits that would be extended to NRIs would also be available to the PIO Card holders;

                                                      vi.           However, they shall not enjoy political rights in India.

                                                     vii.           Prior permission of the Government of India is required by the PIO Card holders for undertaking mountaineering expeditions, missionary activities, research work; and visits to the restricted/protected areas.

Who is eligible for a Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card?

All persons of Indian origin who hold passport of any other country (not being a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries that may be specified by the Central Government from time to time; at present nationals of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and China are also included in this category) will be eligible to apply for PIO Card, if:-

  1. He/She at any time held an Indian passport; or

  2. Applicant or either of applicant’s parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in and permanently resident in India as defined in the Govt. of India Act, 1935, and other territories that became part of India thereafter provided neither was at any time a citizen of any of the aforesaid countries in first para; or

  3. He/She is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin Covered under (I) or (ii) above.

Authority to which application is to be made

      (i)                   An application for issue of a PIO Card shall be made to an Indian Mission in the country where the applicant is   ordinarily resident.

(ii)        Applicants already in India on Long Term Visa (more than one year) shall make the application for issue of a PIO Card to the following authorities:-

(A) Those residing in:-

(a) Delhi, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Hans Bhavan, I.P.Estate New Delhi -  110002.

(b) Mumbai, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Annex II, Commissioner of Police, Craw Ford Market, Mumbai - 400001.

(c) Calcutta, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, 237, Acharya Jagdish Calcutta - 700020

(d) Chennai, Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, No.26, Haddows Road, Chennai- 600006.

(B) Those residing in areas other than (A) above:-

Joint Secretary (Foreigners). Ministry of Home  Affairs, 1st floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market New Delhi-110003.

Cancellation of PIO Card

The Government of India may by order, cancel the PIO Card, if it is satisfied that:

  1. the PIO Card was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or

  2. the PIO Card holder has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected towards the Constitution of India and other laws of India; or

  3. the PIO Card holder is a citizen or subject of any country at war with, or committing external aggression against India; or of any other country assisting the country at war with, or committing such aggression against India;or

  4. the PIO Card holder has been sentenced in India for indulging in acts of terrorism, smuggling of narcotics, arms, ammunitions etc, or has been sentenced for committing an offence punishable with imprisonment up to one year or fine up to rupees ten thousand; or

  5. it is not conducive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold  a PIO Card.

No reasons shall be assigned for withdrawal of the Card.

How to apply

 Application form for PIO Card can be downloaded from our website. Completed forms are to be submitted in duplicate along with documents of proof of eligibility, four passport size photographs of size 3.5 x 3.5 CMs and the requisite amount of fee.

Time taken 

The time taken depends on a case-to-case basis. In general PIO card is made available to the applicant in about twelve weeks time from the date of submission of completed application. The status of prepared PIO cards can be ascertained from our website.

For Children

For children who cannot sign, a thumb impression may be put in place of signatures in the application form. (Left hand thumb impression in case of male child and right hand thumb impression in case of female child). 

Requirements for PIO card application for the people of Indian Origin are:

a)       Existing foreign (valid) passport in original, along with a photocopy;

b)       Indian passport/travel document(s) of the applicant or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents in original, along with photocopies;

c)       All other relevant documents and their photocopies that may be helpful in establishing Indian origin which may include, inter alia, revenue records, domicile certificate/school or college leaving certificates, Indian Birth certificate of the applicant and of the parents or grand parents of the applicant etc; all certificates in the absence of old Indian passport copy require to be duly Aposttiled or attested by CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Patiala House, New Delhi;

d)        Original Uitterksel issued by respective Gemeente in Netherlands for residence proof;

e)       In case application is for a child, Indian passports of parents (along with photocopies) and original birth certificate of the child (along with photocopies) may be submitted;

f)        Those applying as spouse of persons of Indian origin should submit original Indian passport or PIO card (whichever is applicable) of the spouse and the duly apostilled/ attested original marriage certificate along with respective photocopies (To be eligible the marriage must have taken place more than a year before the date of application);

g)       Four recent passport size photographs (3.5 x 3.5 CMs) of the applicant showing frontal view of full face;

h)       Please fill the application form completely, in particular, column requiring details of parents, grandparents, spouse etc., bringing out their Indian or foreign origin as applicable;

i)         Submit proof of residence in the area of this Embassy’s jurisdiction for at least a year  in case the application is from a non-Dutch passport holder; and

j)         Above requirements are only indicative and attempt has been made to cover requirements for a major section of applicants. However, the Consular Officer may ask for additional documents after examining the application for issuance of PIO Card.

To endorse new passport Number on PIO card

To endorse new passport number, both old and new passports and PIO card in original are to be brought to the Embassy.   No fee is chargeable for this service

Requirements for those Dutch nationals of Suriname Origin

As per existing rules, PIO Card to Dutch nationals of Suriname Origin up to fourth generation

whose forefathers came from India in 19th century will be granted. The following documents besides required photos are to be submitted. 

a)         Copy of Foreign passport along with original;

b)         Duly Apostilled Certificate issued from Ministry of Home Affairs  of Govt of Suriname regarding Indian origin of ancestors restricted to four generations;

c)         Duly attested translated version (in English ) of the above certificate issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Suriname;

d)         Original Uittreksel along with photocopy issued by respective Gemeente in Netherlands for residence proof; and

e)         Original Family Book issued by Government of Suriname along with photocopy