Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is a status given to foreign citizens (other than citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal, or Bhutan) who once held an Indian passport or whose father or paternal grandfather was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955 Non-resident foreign citizens of Indian origin (PIOs) are treated at par with NRIs and persons belonging to both categories are eligible to freely purchase immovable residential and commercial property in India.