PUBLIC NOTICE

Deadline for registration as OCI cardholder by erstwhile PIO cardholders

Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card scheme was withdrawn by the Government of India and was merged with Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card scheme in 2015. PIO cards are handwritten whereas the new OCI cards are machine readable. International Civil Aviation Organisation will accept only machine readable travel documents from October, 2018. The existing PIO cards which are handwritten will, therefore, become invalid travel documents from October, 2018. Hence, it will be necessary for all PIO cardholders to obtain machine readable OCI cards in lieu of existing hand written PIO cards before October, 2018 to avoid any inconvenience.

It is mentioned that the submission of the application for registration as OCI cardholder in lieu of the existing PIO card is on gratis basis up to December 31, 2017. The Conversion of PIO cards into OCI cards would not require any extra scrutiny or additional documentation except for the requirements of copies of the foreign passport and the existing PIO card. For more information regarding conversions of PIO to OCI please visit our website: www.hcililongwe.in.

All PIO cardholders are requested to apply for OCI cards free of charge before the prescribed deadline. i.e. 31st December, 2017.

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26 September, 2017