A foreign citizen is deemed to be of Indian Origin if : i) he held an Indian Passport at any time or ii) he or his father/mother or paternal/maternal grand father was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955. However this does not apply to citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka or Nepal.

The purchase consideration should be met either out of inward remittances in foreign exchange through normal banking channels or out of funds from any non resident accounts maintained with banks in India.

There are no restrictions on the number of residential properties that may be bought by an NRI. However, repatriation is allowed only in respect of two such properties.

All requests for acquisition of agricultural land / plantation property / farm house by any person resident outside India may be made to The Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office, Exchange Control Department, Foreign Investment Division (III), Mumbai 400 001.

Yes. Reserve Bank has granted general permission for sale of such property. However, where another foreign citizen of Indian origin purchases the property, funds towards the purchase consideration should either be remitted to India or paid out of balances in non-resident accounts maintained with banks in India.

In the event of sale of immovable property other than agricultural land/farm house/plantation property in India by a NRI or PIO, the authorized dealer may allow repatriation of the sale proceeds outside India, provided all the following conditions are satisfied: -

Yes. NRI/PIOs can freely rent out their immovable property, whether purchase through application of forex or otherwise, without seeking any permission from the RBI. The rental income being a current account transaction is repatriable outside India, only if proper tax is paid or provided for.

Yes. There are guidelines issued by the by the Reserve Bank of India for grant of Housing Loans to NRIs. The guidelines are:

Authorised dealers have been granted permission to grant loans to NRI's for acquisition of house/flat for self-occupation on their return to India subject to certain conditions Repayment of the loan should be made within a period not exceeding 15 years out of inward remittance through banking channels or out of funds held in the investors' NRE/FCNR/NRO accounts.

Yes. Such housing loans availed in rupees can also be repaid by the close relatives in India of the borrower.

The following documents are normally to be submitted along with the application:

An NRI can borrow against the security of immovable property from Authorised Dealer subject to following conditions:

Yes, TDS is deductible on behalf of the developer from the amount paid by NRI. It has now been made mandatory for resident indians, NRI and PIO.