Buy farmland in India without flying back.
FEMA-compliant, RBI-cleared, e-signed. Remote KYC, an escrow-backed payment, and registration via Power of Attorney mean you can buy from wherever you are — without flying back until you want to.
How NRI buying actually works on TrueAcre.
4 steps, 6-8 weeks. Designed around the realities of time zones, dollar remittance and not being on the ground.
Remote KYC
Aadhaar e-KYC works for NRIs with an Indian Aadhaar. OCI cardholders use passport + OCI card + foreign address proof. Done in 12 minutes via video.
Virtual site visit
Live video walkthrough with our field agent. 360° drone tour, soil report, GPS boundary — all from your laptop. Or send a trusted local family member.
e-Sign + remit
Sale agreement e-signed via Digio + Aadhaar OTP. Remit from your NRE/NRO account through your bank's portal to our ICICI escrow virtual account.
Registration via PoA
We help you appoint a Power of Attorney holder in India (often a family member or our Bangalore legal partner). They register on your behalf.
FEMA & RBI rules in plain English.
The rules sound scary but the reality is straightforward. Here's what's allowed under FEMA and the RBI general-permission route.
Read the full compliance memo →NRI / OCI · what's permitted
- ✓Inherit any land from an Indian resident — agricultural, plantation, residential.
- ✓Buy plantation property (coffee, tea, rubber, cardamom) via the RBI general permission route, no individual approval needed.
- ✓Sell agricultural land back to a resident Indian or another NRI of Indian origin.
- ✓Receive farm produce income in your NRO account, tax-free if the land is plantation/agricultural.
- ✗Buy plain agricultural land directly (non-plantation, non-inherited). This needs specific RBI approval through your bank.
Country desks · we speak your timezone.
We schedule video calls around your time zone, so an IST-evening slot lands in your morning or evening wherever you are. Email our NRI desk and we'll find a window that works.
UAE · Gulf
Our largest diaspora audience. Video calls scheduled for Gulf evenings (IST morning).
Singapore · SE Asia
SG nationals and Indian-passport holders. Calls in the SGT late-evening window.
USA · Canada
North-American diaspora, often planning an eventual move back. Calls in your PT/ET evening.
UK · EU
UK Indians and the wider EU diaspora. Calls scheduled for your BST/CET evening.
📋 Power of Attorney
Don't have a trusted family member? We can be your PoA.
If you don't have a trusted family member to act for you, we can connect you with a vetted local legal partner to serve as your registered PoA holder — they attend the sub-registrar, sign on your behalf, and send you the registered deed.
- Notarised PoA drafted in 24 hours
- Apostille / consular attestation help
- Day-of-registration video call
- Identity-verified registered deed delivery
- Mutation filing on your behalf
- Bhoomi RTC update confirmation
- End-to-end FEMA filing assistance
- Optional annual property check-in
NRI FAQs
The 8 questions our NRI desk gets asked most often.
Can NRIs buy agricultural land in India?
Plain agricultural land — not directly, you'd need specific RBI approval. Plantation property (coffee, tea, rubber, cardamom) — yes, freely under RBI general permission. This is the path most NRIs use.
What about OCI cardholders?
Same rules as NRIs. OCI cardholders are treated as foreign nationals of Indian origin under FEMA but have unrestricted residency/work rights.
How do I pay from abroad?
Wire from your NRE or NRO account in INR. We provide an ICICI virtual escrow account number; your bank does the rest. Foreign currency wires need an extra FEMA declaration form.
Is the rental / farm income repatriable?
NRO account income — up to USD 1 million per financial year, no questions asked. Beyond that you'll need CA-attested Form 15CA/CB filings.
What's the tax situation?
Agricultural income is exempt from income tax in India. Plantation income (coffee, tea, rubber) is partially taxable — typically 35% of net is treated as business income.
Do I need a PAN?
Yes, for any property transaction over ₹ 5 lakh. NRIs without a PAN can apply remotely via NSDL — typically 2-3 weeks. We can fast-track this.
What if I want to sell later?
You can sell to a resident Indian, another NRI of Indian origin, or back to an Indian agricultural entity. Capital gains apply (20.8% LTCG after 2 years, indexed).
Can I get a loan from India as an NRI?
Yes — HDFC, SBI, ICICI all offer NRI farmland loans, typically 35-45% LTV (lower than for residents). Rates are 50-100 bps higher.
Talk to our NRI desk.
We do video calls in your time zone. First call is 30 minutes, no obligation, no sales pitch — just answers to whatever specific questions you have about buying farmland in India.
NRI desk contact
nri@trueacre.in