The last date for conversion of valid PIO card to OCI Card is 30 June 2016. The PIO card holders are advised to submit their application by 30 June 2016.
After processing, when the OCI card is issued, the PIO card will be cancelled.
During the interim period (from time of application to issue of OCI card), the PIO card continues to be valid.
If you havent yet applied to convert your PIO card to OCI card, the only documents required for conversion are:
(i) Copy of valid PIO Card
(ii) Copy of current valid Passport
While the conversion of PIO card to OCI card is free of charge; the applicant will have to pay service charge for the outsourcing agency as well as postal/courier charges.
PIO cards allowed visa-free travel to India for 15 years and required that holders registered with the police if they stayed in the country for more than 180 days.
People with Indian heritage and foreigners married to Indians were eligible for the cards.
Meanwhile, OCI cards allow visa free travel with no time limit.
The announcement of merging these two cards into one was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip to the US in 2014.
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PIO to OCI Conversion Necessary
