PIO Cards

The Government of India has issued an advisory extending the validity of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards. All PIO cards, including handwritten ones, will be accepted as valid travel documents along with a valid foreign passport until December 31, 2025. However, PIO cardholders are strongly advised to convert their PIO cards to OCI cards before the deadline. This is to ensure compliance with the latest regulations and to avoid any inconvenience during travel. It's important to note that if the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issues any deadlines that render handwritten PIO cards invalid before December 31, 2025, PIO cardholders may need to obtain appropriate visas from Indian Missions or Posts abroad. Therefore, we strongly advise that you get your PIO cards converted to OCI Cards as soon as possible.