Merger of PIO and OCI Schemes

Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card scheme has been withdrawn by the Government of India and has been merged with Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card scheme with effect from January 9, 2015.

Hence, as per Government of India Gazette Notification No.11 dated January 9, 2015, all persons holding PIO Card will be deemed to be OCI Card holders.

Therefore, the High Commission of India, Trinidad and Tobago will no longer be issuing PIO cards. Fresh online applications will be accepted only for Overseas Citizenship of India cards.

All PIO Card holders, resident in Trinidad & Tobago and concurrently accredited countries, are requested to have their PIO cards converted into OCI Cards online.

The relevant web link for this purpose is: https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome

Overseas Citizens of India Scheme (OCI)

The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. However, based on the recommendation of the High Level committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to register Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category as has been specified in the Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 as Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cardholders. Accordingly, OCI Scheme came into operation from December 2, 2005.

Benefits to an OCI cardholder:

a) Multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose.

b)  OCI Cardholders are required to get Special Permission from concerned authorities to undertake certain activities in India. For this special permission, OCI cardholders can apply at sub-portal under the name ''Apply for Special Permission (Only for OCI cardholders)'' in the online OCI web portal at https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome. These activities include Research work, Missionary work, Mountaineering, Journalism, to undertake internship in any foreign Diplomatic Missions or foreign Government organisations in India or to take up employment in any foreign Diplomatic Missions in India and to visit any place which falls within the Protected/Restricted Area notified by the Government.

c) Exemption from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for any length of stay in India.

d) Parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in respect of all facilities available to them in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

e) Treated at par with the Non-Resident Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children.

f) Treated at par with resident Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors in India.

g) Shall be charged the same entry fee as domestic Indian visitors to visit national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India.

h) Parity with NRIs in respect of:

i. Entry fees to be charged for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;

ii. Pursuing the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in the relevant Acts, namely: -

1. Doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists;

2. Advocates;

3. Architects;

4. Chartered Accountants

iii. To appear for the All India Pre-Medical Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission and eligible for teaching faculty in IITs, NITs, IIMs, IISER, IISc, Central Universities and in the new AIIMS set up under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

Benefits to which OCI cardholder is not entitled to:

a) Not entitled to vote, be a member of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council or Parliament, cannot hold Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court or High Court, etc.

b) Shall not be entitled for appointment to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State except for appointment in such services and posts as the Central Government may, by special order, in that behalf, specify.

c) Cannot acquire agricultural or plantation properties in India.

Eligibility Criteria

A foreign national, who:

• was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January1950, or

• was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26 January1950, or

• belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August1947 and his/her children and grandchildren, are eligible for registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).

• The minor children of such persons are also eligible for OCI.

Details of the OCI scheme are at: http://mha1.nic.in/foreigDiv/ OCI.html

Please fill up the OCI Registration Form at: https://passport. gov.in/oci/capchaAction

Documents Required

B. OCI Card for Adults:

• Application form -Part A & B - duly filled in and signed wherever necessary

• Surrender Certificate obtained when giving up Indian nationality.

• One recent passport photograph (in addition to the one affixed on the application form) measuring 51x51 mm without border and showing full frontal view of the person’s head and shoulders having a white or light coloured background. No glare if wearing glasses.

• Copy of previous Indian passport OR any document which clearly establishes applicant's previous nationality as Indian.

• Copy of present Trinidad and Tobago Passport or accredited country passport.

• Copy of DNI / country’s Identification Card (ID)

OCI Card for children below 18 yrs. (who held an Indian Passport).

Besides documents required for OCI Card for Adults a copy of parents Trinidad and Tobago Passport or accredited country passport (who are otherwise eligible for an OCI Card)

C. OCI Card for children born to Indian parents and never held an Indian Passport

Besides documents required for OCI Card for Adults, the following documents are required:

• Copy of Birth Certificate

• Copy of marriage certificate of the parents (if the marriage was conducted in India) duly attested by Home department of State Government OR CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Patiala House, New Delhi.

Fees

Please click to view OCI fees

Application procedure

The applicant shall submit the application form online - https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome - and upload all the requisite documents (self-attested/ proof of Indian ancestry/ relation), photograph and signature (in the case of minors who cannot sign, left hand thumb impression) along with the application. After the applicant submits the complete application online including documents, photograph and signature, the originals of the supporting documents and fees have to be submitted to the High Commission of India, Trinidad and Tobago for further processing. Applicant (age above 12 years and below 70 years) has to visit the Embassy for Biometrics at the time of submission of application.

OCI Miscellaneous Services

OCI Miscellaneous Services can be availed only by registered OCI card holders for re-issuance/issuance of duplicate OCI documents in the following cases:

1. Change of passport.

2. Change of personal particulars on the OCI card etc.

3. Loss/damage of OCI card.

Submission of Applications

Those residing in Trinidad & Tobago should submit their applications in person at:

High Commission of India, #6 Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.

All those residing at faraway places accredited to High Commission of India, T&T i.e. Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada and Montserrat may use a courier service (with return courier) to:

Second Secretary (Consular),

High Commission of India, Trinidad & Tobago

#6 Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain,

Trinidad, West Indies.

As per Government of India Notification No. 26011/01/2014-IC. I dated 9.1.2015, all PIO cardholders with valid PIO cards as on 9.1.2015 are deemed to be OCI cardholders. Hence the PIO card, which is a deemed OCI card, continues to be legally valid as per law.

Machine-readable electronic travel document is mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines. It is not a precondition prescribed by the Government of India for entry into India.

Bureau of Immigration (BOI) will accept PIO cards as valid travel documents till 31stDecember 2021 along with valid foreign passport and the Indian Immigration Check Post(s) will continue to consider all PIO cards valid for exit from/entry into India till 31stDecember 2021. This extension of timeline is subject to the condition that if in the meantime any deadline is notified by the International Civil Organization (ICAO) thereby making handwritten PIO cards invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from Embassy of India.

All PIO cardholders with valid PIO cards, as on 09.01.2015, are again advised to apply for conversion of PIO card to OCI card at the earliest.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Re-issue of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card:

OCI cardholder is required to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age.

OCI cardholder is required to upload a copy of the new passport and a latest photo on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. The uploading of these documents may be done within three months of receipt of the new passport. The service will be provided on Gratis basis. OCI cardholders will get the acknowledgement that their updated details have been taken on record.

Foreign Spouse of an Indian Citizen or spouse of foreign origin of an OCI cardholder are required to upload a copy of the new passport and also a latest photo on the online system under OCI Miscellaneous Services each time a new passport is issued along with a declaration on subsisting of marriage, copy of the Indian passport of the Indian spouse or copy of OCI card of the OCI cardholder spouse. The service will be provided on Gratis basis. OCI cardholders will get the acknowledgement that their updated details have been taken on record

Photo specifications for OCI:

The photograph should be in colour and of the size of 2-inch x 2 inch (51mmx51mm).

The background should be a plain white or off-white.

The photo-print should be clear and with a continuous-tone quality.

It should have full face, front-view, eyes open.

Photo should present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin. Centre head with in frame.

Photo should be taken within the last 3 months to reflect your current appearance.

There should not be any distracting shadows on the face or on the background.

Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.

The expression on the face should look natural and neutral. Non-tinted prescription glasses are allowed as long as your eyes are clearly visible.