RBI Guidelines

Under the general permission available, the following categories can purchase immovable property in India:

  • Non-Resident Indian (NRI)
  • Person of Indian Origin (PIO)

The general permission, however, covers only purchase of residential and commercial property and is not available for purchase of agricultural land / plantation property / farm house in India.

No. An NRI / PIO who has purchased residential / commercial property under general permission, is not required to file any documents/reports with the Reserve Bank.
There are no. restrictions on the number of residential / commercial properties that can be purchased.
No. A foreign national of non-Indian origin, resident outside India cannot purchase any immovable property in India unless such property is acquired by way of inheritance from a person who was resident in India. However, he / she can acquire or transfer immovable property in India, on lease, not exceeding five years. In such cases, there is no requirement of taking any permission of /or reporting to the Reserve Bank.

No. A foreign national of non-Indian origin, resident outside India cannot purchase any immovable property in India unless such property is acquired by way of inheritance from a person who was resident in India. However, he / she can acquire or transfer immovable property in India, on lease, not exceeding five years. In such cases, there is no requirement of taking any permission of /or reporting to the Reserve Bank.

Yes, NRIs and PIOs can freely acquire immovable property by way of gift either from
  • A person resident outside India OR
  • An NRI OR
  • A PIO.
a foreign national of non-Indian origin can inherit and hold immovable property in India from a person who was resident in India.
Yes,
  • A person resident outside India OR
  • An NRI OR
  • A PIO.
a foreign national of non-Indian origin can inherit and hold immovable property in India from a person who was resident in India.
Yes,
  • A person resident outside India OR
  • An NRI OR
  • A PIO.
a foreign national of non-Indian origin can inherit and hold immovable property in India from a person who was resident in India.
A person resident outside India (i.e. NRI or PIO or foreign national of non-Indian origin) can inherit immovable property from
  • a person resident in India
  • a person resident outside India
However, the person from whom the property is inherited should have acquired the same in accordance with the foreign exchange law in force or FEMA regulations, applicable at the time of acquisition of the property.
NRI can sell property in India to
  • A person resident in India OR
  • An NRI OR
  • A PIO.
PIO can sell property in India to
  • A person resident in India OR
  • An NRI OR
  • A PIO with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank
Foreign national of non-Indian origin including a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh or Sri Lanka or Afghanistan or China or Iran or Nepal or Bhutan can sell property in India with prior approval of the Reserve Bank to.
  • A person resident in India
  • An NRI
  • A PIO
Yes,
  • NRI / PIO may gift residential / commercial property
  • person resident in India OR
  • An NRI OR
  • PIO
A foreign national of non-Indian origin requires the prior approval of the Reserve Bank for gifting the residential / commercial property.