Indians who live abroad: NRI, PIO, and OCI

 

There are three terms you should be familiar with that categorize Indians who live abroad: NRI, PIO, and OCI.

 The Short Version

NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) are Indian Citizens who live in another country.

PIOs (Person of Indian Origin) are non-Indian citizens who have a 15-year visa to live and work in India with some restrictions.

OCIs (Overseas Citizen of India) are non-Indian citizens who have a lifetime visa to live and work in India with fewer restrictions.

 The Long Version

 NRI(Non-Resident Indian)

While the PIOs and OCIs have given up their full Indian citizenship, NRIs are still citizens of India. This is technically a tax classification as opposed to a visa status.

Who can be an NRI?

An Indian citizen residing outside India for a combined total of at least 183 days in a financial year (from April 1 to March 31).

What are the benefits of being a NRI?

• You can get special bank accounts from Indian banks.
• You can continue to own land and property in India.
• Your earnings outside India are not taxed by the Indian government, provided you have paid taxes in the nation you reside in. Local earnings in India (interest, rental income) are still taxed.
• There is a special quota of seats in Indian universities reserved for NRIs.
• You can still vote, but you have to be in India to do it.

What are the drawbacks?

• You may need permission to take out money invested in India.
• You may not purchase agricultural land or farm houses.
• You may not hold a government job.
• You may not be elected to a political position.

How do you become an NRI?

There is no application form needed. The only official record of being an NRI comes on your yearly tax filing. This status can change from year to year. If you wish to open an NRI bank account, you simply need to inform your bank of your plans.

 PIO(Person of Indian Origin)

A PIO card is a 15-year visa status issued to non-Indian citizens.

Who can be a PIO?

Three options:

1. A person who used to be an Indian citizen.
2. A person whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were Indian citizens. (However, no parent, grandparent, or great grandparent should be a citizen of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, or Sri Lanka.)
3. A person married to an Indian Citizen or an existing PIO.

What are the benefits of being a PIO?

• You get a 15-year, multiple entry visa to India.
• You are treated the same as an NRI in most ways.
• You can use special counters during immigration.
• You don’t need a student visa to study in India.
• You don’t need an employment visa to get a job.
• You can open a special bank account in India, just like an NRI.
• You can make investments in India.
• You can buy non-farm property and exercise property ownership rights.
• Your PIO card can be used to apply for a driver’s license, open a bank account, or get a PAN card.
• You get the same economic, financial, and education benefits as NRIs (e.g. reserved admission quotas).
• You can eventually become a citizen on India after living in India for seven years.

What are the drawbacks?

• You have to register at the FRRO if you stay for over 180 days at a time.
• You may not purchase agricultural land or farm houses.
• You may not vote.
• You may not hold a government job.
• You may not be elected to a political position.
• You may not travel to restricted areas without permission.

How do you become a PIO?

You can apply through the Indian embassy in your country of residence or within India at the local FRRO.

Here is a sample of documentation you will need (see your local consulate for a specific list):

• Proof of present citizenship
• Proof of former Indian citizenship (for you or your relative)
• Proof of renunciation of Indian citizenship (if applicable)
• Proof of relationship to an Indian citizen

It is a fairly simple process that takes 2-4 weeks. Fees will vary from nationality to nationality. If you apply in India, the fee is Rs. 15,000 for an adult or Rs. 7,500 for a minor.

  

OCI

An Overseas Citizen of India is a lifetime visa status. It is the closest thing to dual citizenship that India offers.

Who can be an OCI?

Two options:

1. A person who used to be an Indian citizen
2. A person with at least one parent or grandparent who is/was an Indian citizen

The following groups of people cannot have OCI status:

• Anyone who was ever a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
• Anyone whose parents or grandparents were citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, or Sri Lanka.
• Anyone who served in a foreign military or worked in a foreign defense department.
• Being married to an OCI does not qualify you to be an OCI, you must qualify on your own.

What are the benefits of being an OCI?

• All the same as the PIO, as well as:
• You get a lifelong multiple entry visa to India.
• You never have to report to the FRRO regardless of the length of your stay.
• You can eventually become a citizen of India if you remain an OCI for 5 years and live in India for at least 1 year.
• You can adopt Indian children just like an NRI.
• You pay the Indian resident fee when visiting a national parks, monuments, museums or wildlife sanctuary (of course it is ultimately up to the discretion of the man issuing tickets).

What are the drawbacks?

• Same as the PIO except without the FRRO restriction.

How do you become an OCI?

You will follow the same process as the PIO, however, the process is much more thorough, and takes up to four months. Fees vary from nationality to nationality. If you apply in India, the fee is Rs. 15,000 for an adult or Rs. 8,000 for a minor. You can convert a PIO card to an OCI card if you qualify, and the fees are very nominal.

the Government of India has announced vide Gazette Notification No.26011/01/2014-F.I dated 09.01.2015, that all PIO cards issued till 09.01.2015 are deemed to be OCI card. The scheme has been withdrawn now. Henceforth, applicants may apply for OCI card only, as PIO card scheme is no longer in existence. Transfer of PIO Card to OCI card is optional. One can apply for OCI card in lieu of valid PIO card free of any charges.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/real-estate/checklist-for-nri-buyers-before-buyinghomeindia_3345101.html?utm_source=IBNHP_CrossPromo

any Person of Indian origin(PIO) who is currently holding a passport of a different country, but was himself an Indian citizen earlier or whose ancestors have been Indians upto the fourth generation(great grandparents), is considered a PIO. The current country of residence can be any except Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka. He will have a free passage to India without a visa. Overseas citizen of India (OCI) on the other hand has a lot of misconceptions around it. People think that it is a dual-citizenship card. Please understand that there is no such thing, as India does not allow any citizen of other country to hold an Indian citizenship. An OCI has no voting rights in India and he cannot have a government job or hold any legislative position in India. Simply put, he is not an Indian citizen. In fact, the Government of India has announced vide Gazette Notification No.26011/01/2014-F.I dated 09.01.2015, that all PIO cards issued till 09.01.2015 are deemed to be OCI card. The scheme has been withdrawn now. Henceforth, applicants may apply for OCI card only, as PIO card scheme is no longer in existence. Transfer of PIO Card to OCI card is optional. One can apply for OCI card in lieu of valid PIO card free of any charges.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/real-estate/checklist-for-nri-buyers-before-buyinghomeindia_3345101.html?utm_source=IBNHP_CrossPromo