> Press Release

Discontinuation of Hand - written Travel Documents by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and clarification on validity of Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Cards

Consulate General of India

Perth

PRESS RELEASE

Discontinuation of Hand - written Travel Documents by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and validity of Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Cards

All Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders with valid cards as on 9 January 2015 were deemed to be Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders and were advised to apply for conversion of their PIO Cards to OCI Cards before 31 December 2017. The conversion after this date is permitted at a fee of USD 275 (charges for issuance of fresh OCI card).

2. Machine-readable electronic travel document is mandated by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines. It is not a precondition prescribed by the Government for entry into India.

3. If any deadline is issued by ICAO, thereby making hand-written PIO cards invalid, all such hand-written PIO card-holders would be required to take appropriate visas from the Indian Missions/Consulates.

4. However, the Indian immigration check posts would continue to consider all PIO cards valid for exit/entry into India till 31 March 2019.

5. All holders of valid PIO cards as on 9 January 2015 are requested to get their PIO cards converted into OCI cards at the earliest.

Perth,

09 October 2018

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