Current News Extension of timeline for handwritten travel document/PIO cards beyond 31st March, 2019

Extension of timeline for handwritten travel document/PIO cards beyond 31st March, 2019

Dear PIO card holders in Niger - It is with pleasure to inform you that PIO card will be accepted as valid travel document till March 31st 2019 along with valid foreign passport and if in the meantime any deadline is notified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) thereby making hand-written PIO card invalid, then PIO card holders may have to obtain appropriate visa from Indian Missions, if they have not converted their PIO cards to OCI cards. It was also clarified that Indian Immigration Check Post(s) will continue to consider all PIO card as valid document along with valid a foreign passport till 31st March 2019.

The above matter has been reviewed and decided with the approval of competent authority that the Bureau of Immigration will accept PIO cards as valid travel document till 30th September 2019 along with valid foreign passport and the Indian Immigration Check Post(s) will continue to consider all PIO cards valid for exit/entry into India till 30th September, 2019. This extension of timeline is subject to the condition that if int he meantime any deadline is notified by the ICAO thereby making hand written PIO cards invalid, then PIO cardholders may have to obtain appropriate visa from India Missions/Posts abroad. The situation will be further reviewed in September 2019.