Passion for India to India Mike over... Foreigner buying property in India?

passionforindia

Hello there - I subscribed to this illustrious group several years ago and can't believe how much you have grown!! Congratulations!!!

I continue to nurture my passion for india and my plans to move to Jaipur in the next few years. I am thinking of purchasing an apartment and seem to be struggling with a clear answer on whether that is possible.

I have dual American and British citizenship.

If anyone out there with an intimate knowledge of buying property in India would like to share their experiences, I'd be most grateful.

I read today about the OCI program - perhaps that is the way to approach this.

Ideas and thoughts welcome!

Namaste
Margaret

Shaktipalooza

Are you aware of the OCI requirements? PIO?

Were you formally an Indian citizen? Parents? Grandparents? Married to one?

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passionforindia

I have no connection to India - parents, grandparents, husband (at least in this lifetime, but I am not sure even though reincarnation is an accepted spiritual belief I could talk my way through that one) .....so what are the actual requirements to get an OCI or PIO. I do have a 10 year visa - but I bet that doesn't count. If you can give me information on the criteria for OCI and/or PIO I can determine whether I would be eligible.Many thanks for all your help.

Margaret

passionforindia

Actually I have just done some checking on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_nationality_law and it doesn't look like I qualify for OCI or PIO - so if I want to purchase an apartment in Jaipur I am going to have to find another way - have a friend purchase on my behalf etc. Thanks again for the help.

Margaret

Shaktipalooza

Sorry to break the bad news but you're not eligible.

OCI requires one to be a former citizen of India, or the child of a former citizen of India (AND under 18 I believe).

A PIO Can be a former Indian citizen, or the child/grandchild of a former Indian citizen. You can also be eligible if you are the spouse of an OCI or PIO, and have been married for one year.

That's about it.

My family is an example of all three. My wife was a former Indian citizen, she aquired an OCI. My son had a PIO but we converted it to an OCI once we realized he was eligible. I hold a PIO card by virtue of being married to Mrs Shaktipalooza.

passionforindia

And my past life as a maharini doesn't count? How unfair!! I do understand the logic and I guess will just have to look for an indian husband. Miracles happen. :-) Many thanks for your quick reply. Have a great evening!

Margaret

mama4us

passionforindia, you gave us a great laugh with your comments above - certainly hope that all goes well for you!

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passionforindia

Well, I think I may have uncovered a flaw here in the Indian visa system - if reincarnation is so imbedded into the Indian culture, you'd think they would make some allowance for those of us who can speak fluent Hindi and cry everytime they hear Indian music or get goose bumps every time they see a picture of the Amber Palace and know in their heart that India is their true home - seems like we should get a shot at going back to the country we love and which is always in our blood :-) I know that sounds irrational, but its how I truly feel. Anyway, glad I made you smile. Have a lovely evening!

Namaste
Margaret

shashank.aggarwal

Hi Margaret, lovely words...your ID truly does justice to your feelings !!

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Nick-H

India's government and constitution is secular.

Sorry!

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iloveindia1234

well, passionforindia may have to prove the reincarnation of a maharani to buy an apartment in jaipur. well, Anything is possible. Remember it is India

anar

i am told by friends of non-indian origin who have done this that if you form a company in india, the company is then eligible to buy a property (flat, house, even land as long it's not agricultural). perhaps that's the route for passiontoindia.

machadinha

Hm yes. I thought this thread might call for these. Try:

Foreign owned property in Goa, (Part One)
Foreign owned property in Goa, (part Two)

Caution: Massive threads.

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Diana

Massive is putting it milding...mind-boggling is more like it.

For those who want to know the short answer...if there any way a non-Indian citizen, who is not Indian by birth or marriage, can purchase property, EVER, in India?

I have a registered NGO (but not in my name as I'm not Indian) and am "buying" a government aided school (again, not in my name as I'm not Indian) and I live in India 50% of the time AND will retire there full time in about 10 years...so, I just want to know if I will forever be handing over money to other (legally, don't panic) to purchase (and own) what I would like to own.

Luckily I trust the people who "own" for me but anything could happen. If so, I'm out of a home in India and 200+ kids are out of a school. There much be some legal way to do what I am doing given that it's non-profit and ACTUAL charity work (not a scam, of which I'm tied of being accused.)

Sorry for the rant but I've been through the long thread and it just gets more and more tangled. Here's hoping someone knows a way...

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Brisso

Diana - I don't think it is possible these days for a foreigner who is not working legally to "retire" to India. Anyone ... ?

If it was possible, I would do it myself.