An Indian Citizen who stays abroad for employment or is engaged in business or vocation outside India or stays abroad under circumstances indicating an intention for an non-resident Indian is an NRI. A person who is not resident in India for a period over 182 days is a non-resident Indian. Persons posted in U.N. organization and officials deputed abroad by Central/ State governments and Public Sector undertakings on temporary assignments are also treated as non-resident Indians.
Under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), a person of Indian origin is an individual (other than a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan) who at any time held an Indian passport, or he or his father or his grandfather was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955).
NRIs and PIOs do not require permission from RBI to acquire residential/ commercial premises in India (other than agricultural land / farm house/ plantation property).
The sale proceeds of immovable property other than agricultural land/ farmhouse / plantation property can be remitted out of India on fulfillment of certain conditions.
Yes, NRIs can obtain loans. However, repayment of loan should be made within a period not exceeding 15 years out of inward remittances or out of funds held in the borrower's NRE/ FCNR/ NRO accounts.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permits Indian firms/ companies to grant housing loans to their employees deputed abroad and holding Indian passports, subject to certain conditions.
Yes
Yes, general permission has been granted by RBI to NRIs and PIOs to transfer by way of gift, immovable property held by them in India, to relatives and charitable trusts / organisations subject to compliance with conditions and provisions of other applicable laws.
Yes, RBI has granted general permissions for letting out any immovable property in India. The rental income or proceeds of any such income are eligible for repatriation subject to payment of taxes and production of a certificate issued by a chartered accountant with the guidance of an Authorised Dealer, such as, a bank for completion of formalities.
The purchase consideration should be met either out of inward remittances in foreign exchange through normal banking channels or out of funds from NRE/ FCNR/ NRO accounts maintained with banks in India.
Applications for necessary permission for remittance of sale proceeds should be made in form IPI 8 to the Central Office of Reserve Bank at Mumbai within 90 days of the sale of the property.
