India: Registration for dual citizenship begins

ELIGIBILITY - PIO CARD

All persons of Indian origin who hold passport of any other country (with certain exceptions) will be eligible to apply for PIO Card, if:

a) he/she at any time held an Indian passport; or
b) he/she or either of his/her parents or grand parents or great grand parents was born in and permanently resident in India as defined in the Government 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 specified countries; or
c) he/she is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered under (i) and (ii) above.

Please note that persons who were citizen of certian specified countries or whose spouse or either of whose parents, grandparents, great-grandparents were citizens at any time of these specified countries may cause an applicant to be ineligible for a PIO cards even though they fulfilled the above criteria.

These grounds of ineligibility would be established only after receipt of application and it may not be possible to respond to queries regarding grounds of ineligibility before receiving the application.


BENEFITS - PIO CARD

Besides making their journey back to their roots simpler, easier and smoother, this Scheme entitles the PIO cardholders to a wide range of economic, financial, educational and cultural benefits.

The benefits envisaged under the Scheme include:

a) No requirement of visa to visit India when PIO card is carried along with the national passport;
b) No requirement of a ‘Student’ Visa for undertaking studies in India and ‘Employment’ visa for taking up employment in India. However, PIO cardholders would be required to fulfill other pre-requisite conditions and formalities in connection with their studies/employment as prescribed by concerned authorities from time to time.
c) No requirement to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer if continuous stay on a single visit 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 with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Officer / Foreigners Registration Officer.
d) Prior permission of the Government of India is required by the PIO Card holders for undertaking mountaineering expeditions, missionary activities, research work and visit to the restricted/protected area.
e) Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRI) in respect of facilities available to the latter in economic, financial, educational fields etc. except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. PIOs would be eligible for benefits as available to NRIs from time to time.
f) PIO card does not allow parity with NRIs in the sphere of political rights.
g) Separate counters for immigration would be provided to PIO Card holders at all International Airports in India.
 
There is difference in PIO CARD and Indian Overseas Citizenship.
Indian Overseas Citizenship application can be submitted to Ministry of External affairs in India even if you submit your application to Indian embassy or Indian consulate. Then the government in Delhi will issue you a Naturalization certificate in 4 months after you get that certificate you will apply for PASSPORT. So it has fee of around $300 to get that certificate then extra fees for the passport
** those who get "indian overseas citizenship passport" they dont have to registar even if they stay more than 180 days in India
 
Hi All,

Anyone take advantage of the dual citizenship yet? Can we apply for dual citizenship for a minor born to parents with Indian citizenship? As far I understood, only 18+ can apply on their own, and minors can apply only if their parents have dual citizenship. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Lucky
 
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