Non-resident Indians holding an Indian passport do not require any permission from RBI for acquiring Immovable Property for bonafide residential purposes as section 31 of FERA 1973 is not applicable to them.
Non-resident Indians holding an Indian passport may pay the purchase consideration either by remittance of funds from abroad through normal banking channels or out of NRO Account or out of NRE Account or out of FCNR Account.
RBI has granted General Permission to Non-resident Indians holding Foreign Passport (i.e. Foreign Citizens of Indian Origin) to acquire, hold, transfer or dispose off by way of sale or inheritance immovable properties situated in India provided:
The property is for the Purchaser's bonafide residential purpose.
The purchase consideration is met either by remittance of funds from abroad through normal banking channels or out of NRE/FCNR Account or out of FCNR Special Deposit Account.
Foreign citizens of Indian origin are however required to declare the properties to RBI within a period of 90 days from the date of purchase in Form IPI 17. The following documents must be submitted along with the declaration.
A certified copy of the purchase deed or a certificate from the Co-operative Housing Society or an Association of the apartment owners as evidence of transfer / registration of the property in the declarant's name.
Certificate from the declarant's bankers in India evidencing receipt of inward remittance(s) in foreign exchange through normal banking channel or withdrawal of funds from the declarant's NRE/FCNR account/ FCNR Special Deposit Account and payment of consideration for the property out of those funds.
Where a Foreign Citizen of Indian origin wishes to acquire a property, out of funds held in NRO Account then the permission from RBI will be required which can be applied for in Form IPI1.
Where a Foreign Citizen of Indian origin wishes to acquire a property from the sale proceeds of another property, prior permission of RBI is essential and may be obtained by applying in Form IPI1.
Any number of properties can be acquired by non-resident Indians regardless of whether they are holding Indian passport provided they are required for bonafide residential purposes.
Under Section 29 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1973, the Reserve Bank of India has granted General Permission to Foreign Citizens of Indian origin and Indian citizens residing outside India to let out their immovable properties (Commercial / Residential).
The Reserve Bank of India on an application in Form IPI I may consider favorably the acquisition of residential property by Foreign Nationals of Non-Indian origin provided:
The purchase consideration is met out of funds remitted from overseas
The property is acquired for bonafide residential use
The foreign National of Non-Indian origin undertakes not to repatriate the sale proceeds
