Q642. Mauritius citizen married to Indian citizen cannot get OCI but PIO . . .
Question: i am a Mauritian married to an Indian, can i apply for OCI? can u help me with getting a resident visa as right now i hve
been on a visa which i hve to renew every yr a the frro. i am just like a tourist and hve no right to work or travel.
Bhimla Benydin
Answer: You cannot apply for OCI. As the spouse of a citizen of India, you could however, apply for a PIO card which is a visa that is
valid for 15 years from the date of issue.
Once you have a PIO card, you need to register one time with the FRRO when you are going to stay in India beyond 180 days. This is
a simple procedure and needs to be done only once.
PIO card will give you the right to visit/stay in India until the validity of your PIO card. You can come and go without having to apply
for a visa repeatedly. PIO card holders can also work* in India.
*Kindly note that PIO card holders are subject to restrictions similar to OCI holders, they cannot work for government, run for
political office, do research work etc.
Indian Citizenship for PIO
PIO holders can also if they prefer, apply for Indian citizenship, once they after a stay in India of a minimum of 7 years.
Disclaimer: Information provided is for general knowledge only and should not be deemed to be professional advice. For professional advice kindly consult a professional
accountant, immigration advisor or the Indian consulate. Rules and regulations do change from time to time. Please note that in case of any variation between what has been
stated on this website and the relevant Act, Rules, Regulations, Policy Statements etc. the latter shall prevail.
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