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 in India) Regulations, 2018 issued vide Notification No. FEMA 21(R)/2018-RB dated March 26, 2018. 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. Amendments, if any, to the principal regulations are appended.
| Q.1 How can Non-resident Indians (NRIs) / Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) acquire immovable property in India? |
| Q.2 What are the accepted modes of payment for property acquired in India? |
| Q.3 Can Foreign Embassies/ Diplomats/ Consulate Generals acquire property in India? |
| Q.4 Can foreign nationals acquire property in India? |
| Q.5 How can a Long Term Visa (LTV) holder acquire property in India? |
| Q.6 Can a spouse of an NRI/ OCI who is not a NRI/ OCI acquire property in India? |
| Q.7 Can a non-resident repatriate the sale proceeds of immovable property in India? |
| Q.8 What is the meaning of transfer? |
Q.1 How can a Non-resident Indian (NRI) and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) acquire immovable property in India?
| Particulars | NRI/ OCI (regulation of FEMA 20(R)) |
| Purchase (other than agricultural land/ farmhouse/ plantation etc) from | Resident/ NRI/ OCI [3(a)] |
| Acquire as gift (other than agricultural land/ farmhouse/ plantation etc) from | Resident/ NRI/ OCI [3(b)] who is a relative |
| Acquire (any IP) as inheritance from | a. Any person who has acquired it under laws in force [3(c)]; b. Resident [3(c)] |
| Sell (other than agricultural land/ farmhouse/ plantation etc) to | Resident/ NRI/ OCI [3(e)] |
| Sell (agricultural land) to | Resident [3(d)] |
| Gift (other than agricultural land) to | Resident/ NRI/ OCI [3(e)] |
| Gift (agricultural land) to | Resident [3(d)] |
| Gift residential/ commercial property | Resident/ NRI/ OCI [3(e)] |
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.
Answer: Foreign Embassy/ Diplomat/ Consulate General, can purchase/ sell immovable property (other than agricultural land/ plantation property/ farm house) in India provided –
- Clearance from the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs is obtained for such purchase/sale, and
- The consideration for acquisition of immovable property in India is paid out of funds remitted from abroad through banking channels.
Answer:
- 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.
- Foreign nationals of non-Indian origin resident in India (except 11 countries listed at (a) above) can acquire immovable property in India.
- 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
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 Regulation 7 of Notification No. FEMA 20 (R)/2018-RB dated March 26, 2018.
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).
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:
- 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;
- 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;
- In the case of residential property, the repatriation of sale proceeds is restricted to not more than two such properties.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment