- 1). Complete a PIO application form. You can download the form from the website of the nearest Indian mission or by visiting an immigration office in person. (See the Resources section for a list of linked Indian missions and immigration offices.)
- 2). Determine your eligibility to apply for a PIO card. You need to satisfy one of the following criteria: you held an Indian passport at any time; you or anyone of your ancestors up to the fourth generation (parents, grandparents or great grandparents) was born in and a permanent resident of India or the pre-1947 territories comprising India, Pakistan and Bangladesh; your spouse is a citizen of India or a PIO.
If you held a Pakistani or Bangladeshi passport at any time, you may be ineligible or require an exemption from the Indian government. - 3). Prove you relinquished your Indian citizenship if you held an Indian passport at one time. Provide proof in the form of a Certificate of Renunciation from an Indian mission, or attach copies of your Indian passport with a canceled stamp.
- 4). Establish Indian origins for you or your ancestor. Provide notarized copies of the birth certificate, certificate from an education institution, land ownership certificate or a sworn affidavit to establish Indian origins for you or your ancestor. To claim grandparents or great grandparents as the basis for Indian origin, provide the necessary birth certificates or sworn affidavits that establish your ancestry.
- 5). Prove Indian ancestry for your spouse if you claim eligibility through marriage. Provide the necessary documentation for your spouse and a notarized marriage certificate.
- 6). Provide photographs and self-attested copies of your current passport. The Indian mission also may require proof of current residence and immigration status.
- 7). Prepare money orders, demand drafts or credit card payments based on the latest fee information.
- 8). Provide special documentation as specified by the nearest Indian mission or immigration office.
- 9). Deliver your PIO application. Apply in person, or mail your application to the nearest Indian mission if you reside outside of India. If you are a resident of India, apply to the nearest immigration office in your city or the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.
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