diff --git a/python/pyspark/sql/pandas/serializers.py b/python/pyspark/sql/pandas/serializers.py
index 30c2d10245650..30c65ce42ba50 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/sql/pandas/serializers.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/sql/pandas/serializers.py
@@ -226,8 +226,7 @@ def create_array(s, t):
                 s = _check_series_convert_timestamps_internal(s, self._timezone)
             elif t is not None and pa.types.is_map(t):
                 s = _convert_dict_to_map_items(s)
-            elif is_categorical_dtype(s.dtype):
-                # Note: This can be removed once minimum pyarrow version is >= 0.16.1
+            elif t is None and is_categorical_dtype(s.dtype):
                 s = s.astype(s.dtypes.categories.dtype)
             try:
                 array = pa.Array.from_pandas(s, mask=mask, type=t, safe=self._safecheck)