PIO Card Vs OCI Card For Travel-To Avoid Paying USD Rates In India

PIO card holder is any person who holds an Indian Passport; or he or either of his parents or grandparents was born in or was permanently resident in India as defined in Government of India Act, 1935 and other territories that became part of India. Thereafter provided, neither was at any time a citizen of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; or who is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin.

A foreign national, who is eligible to become citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26.01.1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947 and his/her children and grand children, provided his/her country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws, is eligible for registration as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such person are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.

A PIO card holder can visit India without visa for 15 years from the date of issue of PIO card. While an OCI card holder can visit India without visa for life long. Officially, all non Indian citizens pay USD rates. However, a person who is of Indian origin and “looks Indian” would generally be able to get away without paying higher fees, as the documents such as Passports are not checked at some places.