What is the difference between NRI, PIO and OCI?

Non-resident Indian (NRI):

NRI is the residential status of an Indian citizen with an Indian passport who is residing in a foreign country for business / work / education / or any other purposes. An Indian citizen having a valid Indian passport is called an NRI when he becomes a non-resident as per residency criteria explained above.

Person of Indian Origin (PIO):

Now there is no separate category of PIO. W.e.f. 09.01.2015 the PIO card scheme was withdrawn by the government and merged with OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card scheme effectively making all PIOs as OCIs.

Prior to 2015, to be eligible to be called a PIO, a person who presently holds a foreign passport other than the passports of Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka; and

  1. at any time held an Indian passport; or
  2. whose parents / grandparents / great grandparents was / were born in India as defined in Government of India Act, 1935 or in territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; or
  3. is a spouse of a citizen of India or PIO

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI):

A foreign national who had not been or either of his parents / grandparents / great grand parents had not been been citizens of Pakistan / Bangladesh and

  1. who was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January, 1950; or
  2. who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26th January, 1950; or
  3. who belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August, 1947; or
  4. who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of such a citizen; or
  5. who is a minor child of such persons mentioned above; or
  6. who is a minor child and whose both parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India;
  7. who is spouse of citizen of Indian / OCI / PIO for a continuous period of two years.
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