Reserve Bank of India - Frequently Asked Questions (2024)

(Updated as on October 21, 2021)

Part I.
Purchase of immovable property outside India by Resident Individuals

These FAQs attempt to put in place the common queries that users have on the subject in easy to understand language. However, for conducting a transaction, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and the regulations made or directions issued thereunder may be referred to. The relevant principal regulations are the Foreign Exchange Management (Acquisition and transfer of immovable property outside India) Regulations, 2015 issued vide Notification No. FEMA 7(R)/2015-RB dated January 21, 2016. The directions issued are consolidated in Part I of the Master Direction No 12 on Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. Amendments, if any, to the principal regulations are appended.

Q.1 Can a resident continue to hold immovable property outside India which was acquired by him when he was a non-resident?

Answer: According to section 6(4) of the FEMA, a person resident in India can hold, own, transfer or invest in any immovable property situated outside India if such property was acquired, held or owned by him/ her when he/ she was resident outside India or inherited from a person resident outside India.

Q.2 Can a resident individual send remittances and purchase property outside India?

Answer: A resident individual can send remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) for purchasing immovable property outside India. In case members of a family pool their remittances to purchase a property, then the said property should be in the name of all the members who make the remittances.

Q.3 To whom do the restrictions of transferring property outside India not apply?

Answer: The prohibition of a resident acquiring property outside India is not applicable if:

1. The resident is a foreign national; or

2. The property was acquired before July 8, 1947 and continued to be held after obtaining permission; or

3. If it is acquired on a lease not exceeding five years

Q.4 How can immovable property be acquired outside India by a resident?

Answer: Immovable property can be acquired outside India:

1. Under section 6(4) of FEMA.

2. As an inheritance/ gift from a person (i) referred to in sec 6(4) of FEMA; or (ii) who has acquired it prior to July 8, 1947 (iii) who has acquired such property in accordance with the foreign exchange provisions in force at the time of such acquisition.

3. Purchased with balances in the Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) account of the resident.

4. As a gift from persons at (b) & (c) above, provided he is a relative of such persons.

5. Purchased with remittances made under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).

6. Jointly with a relative provided there are no outflow of funds from India.

7. By an Indian company having overseas offices, for housing its business or for residence of staff.

Part II.
Purchase of immovable property in India by Non-Resident Individuals

These FAQs attempt to put in place the common queries that users have on the subject in easy to understand language. However, for conducting a transaction, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and the rules made, or directions issued thereunder may be referred to. The relevant principal rules are the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instrument) Rules, 2019 as amended from time to time. The directions issued are consolidated in Part II of the Master Direction No 12 on Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Q.1 How can a Non-resident Indian (NRI)ⁱ and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)ⁱⁱ acquire immovable property in India?

Q.2 What are the accepted modes of payment for property acquired in India?

Answer: Payment for immovable property has to be received in India through banking channels and is subject to payment of all taxes and other duties/ levies in India. The payment can also be made out of funds held in NRE/ FCNR(B)/ NRO accounts of the NRIs/ OCIs. Payments should not be made through travellers’ cheque and foreign currency notes.

Q.3 Can Foreign Embassies/ Diplomats/ Consulate Generals acquire property in India?

Answer: Foreign Embassy/ Diplomat/ Consulate General, can purchase/ sell immovable property (other than agricultural land/ plantation property/ farm house) in India provided –

1. Clearance from the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs is obtained for such purchase/sale, and

2. The consideration for acquisition of immovable property in India is paid out of funds remitted from abroad through banking channels.

Q.4 Can foreign nationals acquire property in India?

Answer:

1. Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan, Macau, Hong Kong or Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), irrespective of their residential status, cannot, without prior permission of the Reserve Bank, acquire or transfer immovable property in India, other than on lease, not exceeding five years. This prohibition shall not be applicable to an OCI.

2. Foreign nationals of non-Indian origin resident in India (except 11 countries listed at (a) above) can acquire immovable property in India.

3. Foreign nationals of non-Indian origin resident outside India can acquire/ transfer immovable property in India, on lease not exceeding five years and can acquire immovable property in India by way of inheritance from a resident.

All other acquisitions/ transfers by foreign nationals will require the prior permission of RBI

Q.5 How can a Long Term Visa (LTV) holder acquire property in India?

Answer: Citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan belonging to minority community (Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist, Jain) in that country and residing in India who has been granted an LTV by the Central government can purchase only one residential immovable property in India as dwelling unit for self-occupation and only one immovable property for carrying out self-employment. However, such acquisition is subject to the conditions as specified under Rule 28 of Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instrument) Rules, 2019.

Q.6 Can a spouse of an NRI/ OCI who is not a NRI/ OCI acquire property in India?

Answer: A person resident outside India, not being a Non-Resident Indian or an Overseas Citizen of India, who is a spouse of a Non-Resident Indian or an Overseas Citizen of India may acquire one immovable property (other than agricultural land/ farm house/ plantation property), jointly with his/ her NRI/ OCI spouse subject to the conditions laid down in regulation 6 of FEMA 21(R).

Q.7 Can a non-resident repatriate the sale proceeds of immovable property in India?

Answer:

(a) A person who has acquired the property U/s 6(5)^iv of FEMA or his successor cannot repatriate the sale proceeds of such property without RBI approval.

(b) Repatriation up to USD 1 million per financial year is allowed, along with other assets under (Foreign Exchange Management (Remittance of Assets) Regulations, 2016) for NRIs/ PIOs and a foreign citizen (except Nepal/ Bhutan/ PIO) who has (i) inherited from a person referred to in section 6(5) of FEMA, or (ii) retired from employment in India or(c) is a non-resident widow/ widower and has inherited assets from her/ his deceased spouse who was an Indian national resident in India.

(c) NRIs/ PIOs can remit the sale proceeds of immovable property (other than agricultural land/ farm house/ plantation property) in India subject to the following conditions:

1. The immovable property was acquired in accordance with the provisions of the foreign exchange law in force at the time of acquisition or the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management (Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India) Regulations 2018;

2. The amount for acquisition of the property was paid in foreign exchange received through banking channels or out of the funds held in foreign currency non-resident account or out of the funds held in non-resident external account;

3. In the case of residential property, the repatriation of sale proceeds is restricted to not more than two such properties.

Q.8 What is the meaning of transfer?

Answer: As per section 2(ze) of FEMA transfer means, sale, purchase, exchange, mortgage, pledge, gift, loan or any other form of transfer of right, title, possession or lien.

The Principal Regulations and Rules

1. Notification No. FEMA 7(R)/2015-RB dated January 21, 2016
2. Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instrument) Rules, 2019

ⁱNRI refers to a person resident outside India who is a citizen of India

ⁱⁱOverseas Citizen of India (OCI) is a person resident outside India who is registered as an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder under Section 7(A) of the Citizenship Act, 1955;

ⁱⁱⁱRelative is as defined in section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013

^ivSection 6(5) of FEMA states that a person resident outside India may hold, own, transfer or invest in any immovable property situated in India if such property was acquired, held or owned by such person when he was resident in India or inherited from a person who was resident in India.