The High Commission of India, Singapore

Eligibility Any person holding a foreign passport but who can prove his Indian origin upto three generation before ie. either the person himself or his father or grandfather or great grandfather must have been a citizen and resident of India. Fees In Fee for the PIO Card is US $1000/- i.e. Sing Dollars 1700/-, which consists of processing fee of US $ 250.00, which will not be refunded in case the person is found to have misrepresented the facts to obtain PIO card. In other words, in case of rejection of application a sum of Sing Dollars 425.00 will be retained by the government towards processing fee and a sum of Sing dollars 1275.00 will be refunded.

Benefits of the Cards PIO cards will be give the holder the the following documents:-
a.	Visa-free entry into India for twenty years.
b.	Exemption from the requirement of registration at the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office if the period of stay in India does not exceed 180 days. In the event of continuous stay for more than 180 days, the PIO card holder will have to register himself/herself at the concerned FRRO office at District Hqrs.
c.	PIO card holders shall enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of facilities available in economic, financial and educational fields except matters relating to acquisition of agricultural/ plantation properties. The facilities will include acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of immovable properties in India except agricultural/ plantation properties.
d.	Admission of children in educational institutions in India in the general category quota for NRIs including Medical, Engineering colleges, IITs & IIMs.
e.	Various Housing schemes under Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Central/State Governments.
f.	All future benefits extended to NRIs would also be available to PIO card holders.

On 30th March’99, the Reserve Bank of India has simplified facilities for NRI/PIOs. These changes are:
a.	To permit NRI/PIOs to open bank accounts in India at par with Rupee Account maintained by the residents. They will now be allowed to open Non-Resident (Special) Rupee Account with Banks in India for example, facilities and restrictions are applicable to Rupee Account maintained in India by the residents in regard to repatriation of funds held in these accounts and/or income/interest earned on them. The procedure for opening such accounts will be the same as in the case of domestic accounts of resident individuals
b.	To resident individuals, partnership/ proprietorship concerns, permission has been granted to avail interest bearing rupee loans from NRI/PIOs are allowed to transfer by way of gift, shares held by other Indian companies and all PIOs to transfer by way of gift immovable properties held by them in India to register charitable trusts/ organisations subject to compliance with other applicable rules and regulations including the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulations Act, 1976.
c.	Allows investment on repatriable basis for NRIs in Air Taxi operations subject to the approval of the Director General of Civil Aviation.
d.	All domestic, public and private sector mutual funds for issue of units to NRIs and PIOs on both repatriation /non-repatriation basis.
e.	NRI/PIOs to place deposits with Indian firms on non-repatriation basis and with Indian companies including Non-Banking financial companies on both repatriation/non-repatriation basis.
f.	NRIs/ PIOs for sale of shares acquired under direct investment schemes on Stock Exchanges in India.

Exceptions
a.	PIOs will, however, not be eligible for any political rights.
b.	Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries as may be specified by the Central Government from time to time, would not be eligible for grant of PIO Cards.
c.	Grant of PIO card shall not per se entitle the PIO card holder to visit the restricted/protected areas without due permission.
d.	The PIO Card will not entitle the holders to undertake mountaineering, research and missionary work without prior permission.

Documentation Required
a.	Prescribed forms to be filled up in duplicate.
b.	Copy of the Indian passport if ever held by the applicant
c.	Copy of the present passport held by the applicant indicating place of birth of the applicant
d.	Any other documents satisfactorily proving the residentiality, etc. like for example revenue records, school leaving certificates and domicile certificates etc.