Existing PIO Card Holders deemed to be OCI Card Holders from today 09-January, 2015 .
Existing PIO Card Holders deemed to be OCI Card Holders from today
The Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card notification has been withdrawn with immediate effect and further it has been notified that all existing PIO Card holders will be deemed to be Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Card holders. Now only one OCI Card with enhanced benefits is in existence.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had announced in USA and Australia during his recent visits that the PIO and OCI cards will be merged and the Indian Diaspora will be given maximum possible benefits. Keeping in view of the promise, an Ordinance was promulgated on January 6, 2015 whereby the eligibility and additional benefits of PIO Card have been incorporated in OCI Card and certain other relaxation to OCI Card holders have been given by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955.
There used to exist simultaneously the PIO and OCI Cards, leading to a lot of confusion prevailing among the PIOs residing abroad. Today’s notification is going to fulfil long cherished demand of Indian Diaspora abroad.