A plain-language overview of who can buy, how payments work, and what to check before you commit. This is general information, not legal or financial advice — rules are evolving and vary by circumstance.
NRIs (Indian citizens living abroad) and OCIs (foreign citizens of Indian origin) can purchase residential and commercial property in India directly, with no RBI approval required.
Foreign nationals with no Indian origin, living abroad, generally cannot purchase property directly — this is restricted by default, with narrow case-by-case RBI approval as the exception. If you fall into this category, direct listings on this site are not the right path; institutional routes like SEBI-registered REITs are the more realistic option.
Foreign nationals resident in India for more than 182 days can purchase property on a case-by-case basis.
Agricultural land, plantation property and farmhouses are not available for purchase by NRIs or OCIs under any of the above.
All payments must be routed through an authorised Indian bank in INR — RBI prohibits direct foreign-currency payment to a developer. Funds typically move through an NRE (Non-Resident External), NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary), or FCNR (Foreign Currency Non-Resident) account.
Sale proceeds can be repatriated with RBI approval, generally capped around USD 1 million per financial year, and limited to proceeds from a maximum of two properties.
India's foreign investment rules in this area are under active review — a draft update (Foreign Investment Rules 2026) was open for public comment as of this guide's last verification date. Rules referenced here can change; always confirm current status with a qualified advisor before making a financial commitment.
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