Q. 102 Do non-resident Indian citizens require permission
of Reserve Bank to acquire residential/commercial property in India?
Q. 103 Do foreign citizens of Indian origin require
permission of Reserve Bank to purchase immovable property in India for
their residential use?
Q. 104 In what manner the purchase consideration
for the residential immovable property should be paid by foreign citizens
of Indian origin under the general permission?
Q. 105 What are the formalities required to be completed
by foreign citizens of Indian origin for purchasing residential immovable
property in India under the general permission?
Q. 106 Can such property be sold without the permission
of Reserve Bank?
Q. 107 Can sale proceeds of such property if and
when sold be remitted out of India?
Q. 108 Are any conditions required to be fulfilled
if repatriation of sale proceeds is desired?
Q. 109 What is the procedure for seeking such repatriation?
Q. 110 Can foreign citizens of Indian origin acquire
or dispose of residential property by way of gift?
Q. 111 Can foreign citizens of Indian origin acquire
commercial properties in India?
Q. 112 Can they dispose of such properties?
Q. 113 Can sale proceeds of such property be remitted
out of India?
Q. 114 Can the properties (residential/commercial)
be given on rent if not required for immediate use?
Q.115 Can NRIs obtain loans for acquisition of a
house/flat for residential purpose from financial institutions providing
housing finance?
Q. 116 Can authorised dealer grant loans to NRIs
for acquisition of a flat/house for residential purposes?
Q. 117 Can Indian companies grant loans to their
NRI staff?
Section 4: INVESTMENT IN IMMOVABLE PROPERTY
Q. 102 Do non-resident Indian citizens require
permission of Reserve Bank to acquire residential/commercial property in
India?
Ans. No.
Q. 103 Do foreign citizens of Indian origin
require permission of Reserve Bank to purchase immovable property in India
for their residential use?
Ans. Yes. However, Reserve Bank has granted general permission to foreign
citizens of Indian origin, whether resident in India or abroad, to purchase
immovable property in India for their bona fide residential purpose. They
are, therefore, not required to obtain separate permission of Reserve Bank.
Q. 104 In what manner the purchase consideration
for the residential immovable property should be paid by foreign citizens
of Indian origin under the general permission?
Ans. 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 accounts maintained with banks in India.
Q. 105 What are the formalities required to
be completed by foreign citizens of Indian origin for purchasing residential
immovable property in India under the general permission?
Ans. They are required to file a declaration in form IPI 7 with the
Central Office of Reserve Bank at Mumbai within a period of 90 days from
the date of purchase of immovable property or final payment of purchase
consideration alongwith a certified copy of the document evidencing the
transaction and bank certificate regarding the consideration paid.
Q. 106 Can such property be sold without the
permission of Reserve Bank?
Ans. Yes. Reserve Bank has granted general permission for sale of such
property. However, where the property is purchased by another foreign citizen
of Indian origin, funds towards the purchase consideration should either
be remitted to India or paid out of balances in NRE/FCNR accounts.
Q. 107 Can sale proceeds of such property
if and when sold be remitted out of India?
Ans. In respect of residential properties purchased on or after 26th
May 1993, Reserve Bank considers applications for repatriation of sale
proceeds up to the consideration amount remitted in foreign exchange for
the acquisition of the property for two such properties. The balance amount
of sale proceeds if any or sale proceeds in respect of properties purchased
prior to 26th May 1993, will have to be credited to the oridinary non-resident
rupee account of the owner of the property.
Q. 108 Are any conditions required to be fulfilled
if repatriation of sale proceeds is desired?
Ans. Applications for repatriation of sale proceeds are considered
provided the sale takes place after three years from the date of final
purchase deed or from the date of payment of final instalment of consideration
amount, whichever is later.
Q. 109 What is the procedure for seeking such
repatriation?
Ans. 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.
Q. 110 Can foreign citizens of Indian origin
acquire or dispose of residential property by way of gift?
Ans. Yes. Reserve Bank has granted general permission to foreign citizens
of Indian origin to acquire or dispose of properties up to two houses by
way of gift from or to a relative who may be an Indian citizen or a person
of Indian origin whether resident in India or not, provided gift tax has
been paid.
Q. 111 Can foreign citizens of Indian origin
acquire commercial properties in India?
Ans. Yes. Under the general permission granted by Reserve Bank properties
other than agricultural land/farm house/plantation property can be acquired
by foreign citizens of Indian origin provided the purchase consideration
is met either out of inward remittances in foreign exchange through normal
banking channels or out of funds from the purchasers' NRE/FCNR accounts
maintained with banks in India and a declaration is submitted to the Central
Office of Reserve Bank in form IPI 7 within a period of 90 days from the
date of purchase of the property/final payment of purchase consideration.
Q. 112 Can they dispose of such properties?
Ans. Yes.
Q. 113 Can sale proceeds of such property
be remitted out of India?
Ans. Yes. Repatriation of original investment in respect of properties
purchased by foreign citizens of Indian origin on or after 26th May 1993
will be allowed to be remitted up to the consideration amount originally
remitted from abroad provided the property is sold after a period of three
years from the date of the final purchase deed or from the date of payment
of final instalment of consideration amount, whichever is later. Applications
for the purpose are required to be made to the Central Office of Reserve
Bank within 90 days of the sale of property in form IPI 8.
Q. 114 Can the properties (residential/commercial)
be given on rent if not required for immediate use?
Ans. Yes. Reserve Bank has granted general permission for letting out
any immovable property in India. The rental income or proceeds of any investment
of such income has to be credited to NRO account.
Q.115 Can NRIs obtain loans for acquisition
of a house/flat for residential purpose from financial institutions providing
housing finance?
Ans. Reserve Bank has granted general permission to certain financial
institutions providing housing finance e.g. HDFC, LIC Housing Finance Ltd.,
etc., to grant housing loans to non-resident Indian nationals for acquisition
of a house/flat for self-occupation subject to certain conditions.
Q. 116 Can authorised dealer grant loans to
NRIs for acquisition of a flat/house for residential purposes?
Ans. Authorised dealers have been granted permission to grant loans
to non-resident Indian nationals 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.
Q. 117 Can Indian companies grant loans to
their NRI staff?
Ans. Reserve Bank permits Indian firms/companies to grant housing loans
to their employees deputed abroad and holding Indian passport subject to
certain conditions.