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Advisory for Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)
The following may be noted:
(a) In respect of foreign nationals holding Tourist Visas with multiple entry facility, there should be a gap of at least 2 months between two successive visits to India.
(b) If any foreign national is required to visit India again within a period of 2 months of the last departure, such foreign national should obtain re-entry permission from the Mission/Post concerned.
Please see clarifications in Frequently Asked Questions relating to Tourist Visa
2. There might be a need for Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) to travel to India frequently for reasons such as meeting and taking care of relatives, attending family functions and visiting religious places. In order to facilitate their frequent travel, a PIO, his/her spouse and dependent children have the option of applying for Entry (X) Visa with multiple entries for a duration of six months and beyond. This, however, is subject to their submitting proof of being a PIO. Primary proof of being a PIO is cancelled or expired Indian Passport of applicant / spouse / parents / grand parents / great grand parents along with proof of relationship. In cases where this is not available, secondary proof (such as House Registration / Domicile Certificate / Revenue records / Education Certificate/foreign country passport showing place of birth in India) attested from concerned Government authorities may be submitted along with proof of relationship.
3. The PIOs, thus, have following options:
(a) Apply for Tourist Visa (normally three months) if no proof of being PIO is available or provided. They may however note that Tourist visa is non-extendable and normally non-convertible and has the stipulation of a gap of at least two months between two visits to India on a Tourist visa.
(b) Apply for Entry Visa (six months and beyond) with proof of PIO.
(c) Apply for PIO Card (15 years visa) or OCI (life long visa). Details are available on this website under main Visa menu.
For the purpose of Visa, a PIO means:
- A person, who at any time held Indian Passport
- A person or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in, and was permanently resident in India, provided neither was at any time a citizen of any of the excluded Countries viz; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
- A person who is the spouse of a citizen of India or a person of India Origin as covered in (a) and (b) above.
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