Joint Secretary(Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, Ist floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110003.

(5) Authority to grant a PIO Card:-
The authority to grant a PIO Card shall be an officer in an Indian Mission notified for the purpose or the Joint Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta or the Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai.

(6) Validity of PIO Card:-
A PIO Card Shall be valid for a period of twenty years subject to the validity of the passport of the applicant.

(7) Fee:
A fee of US$ 1000, inclusive of US$ 250 (non-refundable) as processing fee, will be payble alongwith the application. In case of rejection of the application, US$ 750 shall alone be refunded to the applicant.

(8) Facilities to be extended to a PIO Card holder:-
(i) A PIO Card holder shall not require a visa to visit India.
(ii) A PIO Card holder will be exempted from the requirement of registration if his stay in India does not exceed 180 days.
(iii) In the event of continuous stay in India of the PIO Card holder exceeding 180 days, he/she shall have to get himself/herself registered within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days with the concerned Foreigners Registration Officer at District Headquarter.
(iv) A PIO Card holder shall enjoy parity with NRIs in respect of all facilities available to the latter in the economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural/plantation properties. No parity shall be allowed in the sphere of political rights.

9. Cancellation of PIO Card:
The Central Government may, by order , cancel the PIO Card, if it is satisfied that:
(a) the PIO Card was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or
(b) the PIO Card holder has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected towards the Constitution of India and other laws of India; or
(c) the PIO Card holder is a citizen or subject of any country at war with, or committing external agression against India; or of any other country assisting the country at war with, or committing such agression against India ; or
(d) the PIO Card holder has been sentenced in India for indulging in acts of terrorism, smuggling of narcotics, arms, ammunitions etc. or has been sentenced for committing an offence punishable with imprisonment upto one year or fine upto rupees ten thousand; or
(e) it is not conducive to the public interest that the person should continue to hold a PIO Card.

No reasons shall be assigned for withdrawal of the Card.