The Diaspora is very special to India. Living in distant lands, members of the Diaspora have had spectacular success in their chosen professions by means of their single-minded dedication and hard work. It is heartening to see that despite their success, they have continued to retain emotional, cultural and spiritual links with India, the country of their origin.

This strikes a reciprocal chord in the hearts of people of India. It is to nurture this symbiotic relationship to mutual advantage that the Government of India, driven by the Diaspora's suggestion, introduced the Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card) Scheme in 1999. This was revised in 2002, and is now known as Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card) Scheme 2002. Gaurav Taneja and Sonu Soni Iyer, senior tax professionals with Ernst & Young explain the details.

Person of Indian Origin Card ('PIO Card')

Any person who at any time has held an Indian passport; or a person who himself or either of his parents, grand parents, or great grand parents were born in India and spouse of such a person or spouse of an Indian citizen is eligible to apply for a PIO Card.

Among the various benefits that accrue to a PIO Card holder, the noteworthy ones include - entry to India without a visa even in cases where the intent is to work or study in India; exemption from the requirement to register, if stay in India on any single visit is less than 180 days. Further, such an individual is treated at par with Non-Resident Indians in economic, financial and educational fields with the exception of acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties. However, a PIO card holder does not enjoy voting rights and is not entitled to hold public office in India.