What Is The Difference Between A NRI, OCI And a PIO?

Question

Can Indians help me because I am totally baffled...I am fully aware of what the acronyms stand for:

NRI = Non Resident Indian

OCI = Overseas Citizen Of India

PIO = Person Of Indian Origin

What is the difference between these? Or are they the same thing?

I was born in New Delhi, raised in London...I have a British passport and a British citizenship.....Which of the three would I be classified as? Or would I be classified as all of them?

Answer 1

PIO

Answer 2

NRI - A citizen of India, holding an Indian passport, but residing abroad

PIO - A foreign national who has Indian origins or Indian ancestors.

PIO Card Holder - A PIO holding a PIO Card, as per the Scheme of The Ministry of Home Affairs, 2002

OCI - Overseas Indians who migrated from India after 26th January, 1950, except those from Pakistan and Bangladesh

Based on this, according to me, you fit in NRI & PIO, again not sure.

The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. Based on the recommendation of the High Level committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) commonly known as ‘Dual Citizenship’. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws.

Persons who register as OCI are not given any voting rights, election to Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council, holding Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc. Registered OCIs are entitled to following benefits:

(i) Multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;

(ii) Exemption from reporting to Police authorities for any length of stay in India; and

(iii) Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields, except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

This may help you. Thanks.

Answer 3

Rahul - beautiful description very good answer.