If you don’t convert your PIO card to an OCI card, you don’t have any rights, you have to obtain a visa or you can apply for an OCI card from the official website of VFS Global online.
One of my friends faced issues with property transactions in India because their PIO card was not up-to-date. PIO does offer parity with NRIs, but the OCI card generally offers more rights in financial and economic matters. If you have any kind of financial dealings in India, then converting your PIO card to an OCI is much more convenient.
After the 31st of December, 2025, your PIO card will no longer be considered a valid travel document to enter and exit from India. Hence, you will have to apply for a regular visa if you want to travel to India.
My cousin recently applied for admission in India, but some universities rejected her application because the PIO card's future validity was uncertain. They strongly advised her to apply for OCI to avoid complications with her admission. She ended up applying for PIO to OCI conversion, which added a lot of stress. It is better to get your PIO card converted asap.
If you don't convert your PIO to OCI before the deadline, which is 31st December, 2025, then the PIO card will be considered invalid for traveling to or from India.
If you are a PIO cardholder, you need to get it converted to an OCI card. There is no other option for you. I had a PIO card for years, and I kept procrastinating the conversion process. Although it is still valid but I was planning a last-minute trip and at the airport, the staff questioned my PIO card's validity. They told me the rules were getting strict, and I might face issues at immigration if I didn't get it converted. Thankfully, after a few arguments, they let me board the plane. I immediately applied for PIO to OCI conversion as soon as I landed.
Hey, just a heads-up to all the PIO cardholders, there is good news for all of you. The Government of India has extended the validity of the PIO card until...
An OCI cardholder has the permission to live in India for an indefinite time, whereas a PIO cardholders have a specific period. The key difference between them is in the...
The documents required for the PIO to OCI conversion are a PIO card, your current passport, an online application form, two recent passport-size photographs, proof of Indian origin, and additional...
To convert your PIO to an OCI card, submit your conversion application online at the https://ociservices.gov.in/oci website with the requested documents, along with a copy of your PIO card. Within...
I recently applied for PIO to OCI conversion, so here are the steps that I followed. Firstly, I filled out the application form at the official OCI website. After that,...
The processing time for converting a PIO to an OCI card typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Still, the timeframe can vary based on several factors, such as the quality...
For the OCI card application, the location you choose depends on whether you are applying for the card from India or outside India. For example, if you are applying for...
To apply for OCI for the whole family, you first need to submit your Indian passport and renounce your Indian citizenship. After that, you can apply for the OCI card...
Hi, is there anybody who recently applied for an OCI Card, specifically in the last 12 months, and received it? Can you please tell me how long it took you...
To apply for an OCI card from the USA, you must first complete an online application form on the official Government of India OCI portal. Once you have filled out...
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