Person of Indian Origin card
Also called: PIO card · Topic: Citizenship: Idea and Indian Law · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card was a scheme for foreign citizens of Indian origin. It began in 1999 and was revised in 2002. The card allowed visa-free travel to India for 15 years. It did not make the holder an Indian citizen. In 2015, the PIO card was merged into the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme, which gives more benefits, including a lifelong visa.
Example
A US citizen whose grandparents came from Gujarat could get a PIO card in the 2000s and visit India for 15 years without a visa. After 2015, such cardholders were moved into the OCI scheme.
Don't confuse with
- OCI card: the PIO card was valid for 15 years and was ended in 2015. The OCI card gives a lifelong multiple-entry visa and is the scheme still in use. Neither one is citizenship.
Related concepts
- Renunciation of citizenship
- Termination of citizenship
- Deprivation of citizenship
- Non-resident Indian
- Overseas Citizenship of India