Q.1235 Is my PIO Card still valid

now in 2019?

Question: What is the status of PIO card holder today march 2, 2019? I have a PIO card and am wondering if this is still valid to enter India or do I need to get visa to visit. Thank you for info as I cannot find this answer on Internet Answer: Technically as I answer your question today [March 14, 2019] is that your PIO card is valid. The PIO scheme was withdrawn but valid existing cards have not been canceled. At least I am not aware of any such notification issued by the authorities. The Indian Bureau of Immigration state that PIO card will be accepted as a valid document until 30th September, 2019. They do add a warning that in case the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issue a notification making PIO cards invalid as they are not machine readable, then PIO card holders would have to get appropriate visa from Indian Missions abroad. All PIO card holders should apply for OCI cards as PIO cards are not machine readable and will indeed eventually not be useful as travel documents to enter/exit India. The government of India had offered free conversion from PIO to OCI earlier and extended deadlines to do so. However, now the deadline has expired and anyone who still has a PIO card can get OCI in lieu of PIO by paying the appropriate fee. More info on PIO Cards For More on PIO holder options check article tittled: ‘PIO Card holder options after government cancels PIO Card scheme Current situation on PIO Cards’ >>