A friend shared this with me, it came out via the UK India Business Council on LinkedIn. It discusses the difference between Person of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizen of India status:
A couple of differences I can think of: (1) Availability; I believe the Overseas Citizenship of India is available to foreign citizens from fewer countries. UK citizens can get the OCI. (2) Expiry - the PIO card expires after a certain time (eg 15 yrs), whereas OCI is valid for your lifetime - but you have to pay through the nose for replacement stickers each time you change your (UK) passport. Both allow for visa fee-free entry into India (which always appeals!) and the ability to open bank accounts, reside, open offices and invest in businesses. The right to vote and purchase agricultural land are expressly excluded. I think some of the NRI organisations are lobbying for the right to vote, though. If you go down this route and are intending to live/work there, be aware that HM Revenue & Customs have stringent guidelines for UK tax domiciles working abroad, so you won't automatically be "protected". I'd be interested to hear on the pros/cons from others, actually, and to see what has happened to people who have taken up the right to work/live in India using the PIO/OCI option. -- FN +91-832-2409490 or +91-9822122436 [email protected] Books from Goa,1556 http://scr.bi/Goa1556Books Audio recordings (mostly from Goa): http://bit.ly/GoaRecordings --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
