OCI & PIO
Overseas Indian Diaspora Schemes
PART I — EVOLUTION OF SCHEMES
SCHEME 1999
PIO Scheme
- Launched in 1999
- Visa-free entry (15 years)
- Registration required
- Discontinued in 2015
SCHEME 2005
OCI Scheme
∞
- Launched in 2005
- Lifelong visa
- Not dual citizenship
- Formally recognized diaspora
ACT 2015
The Merger
- Citizenship Amendment Act 2015
- PIO merged into OCI
- Unified cardholder scheme
- Removed administrative confusion
PART II — STATUS & RIGHTS
RIGHTS
OCI Entitlements
- Multiple-entry, lifelong visa
- Exemption from police reporting
- Parity with NRIs (economic)
- Educational parity
RESTRICTIONS
OCI Limitations
- No voting rights
- No constitutional offices
- No government jobs
- No agricultural property
TERMINATION
Cancellation
- Fraudulent acquisition
- Disloyalty to Constitution
- Enemy contact during war
- Imprisonment within 5 years
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