For all NRIs pondering over to return to India must have a
valid Indian passport or travel documents issued by Indian
Govt. to make a re-entry into the country. All passengers,
foreigner or national, have to go through immigration check,
both at the time of arrival and departure. For that reason, it
is equally necessary for an Indian National to carry all the
necessary data if planning to return.
However,
foreign citizens who want to visit India to conduct any
research work, study, or planning to stay for more than 180
days, require a missionary visa rather than a tourist visa.
They must also ensure to register within 14 days of arrival
with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. Such matters
are handled by local police headquarters in small cities and
towns.
Immigration
FAQs
What Should I
Check Before Arrival And
Departure?
All
passengers must ensure checking the necessary stamps on their
passports at both the arrival and departure. Either coming to
India or departing from India, the passengers need to fill-up
D (Disembarkation) Card and E (Embarkation) Card at arrival
and departure respectively. Also, they will have to provide
the following details:
- Name and Sex
- Date of Birth,
Place of Birth, Nationality
- Passport
Details viz. Number, Place & Dates of Issue / Expiry
- Details of visa
viz. Number, Place & Dates of Issue / Expiry (for
arriving foreigners only)
- Address in
India
- Flight Number
& Date of Arrival / Departure
- Occupation
- Purpose of
Visit to / from India
As an NRI, am I
liable to any tax concessions on immigration to India
pertaining to foreign
assets?
Yes, an NRI with a permission to return to India provided the
currency assets should have been acquired lawfully under FERA
can enjoy the following benefits:
- He /she can
maintain his/her foreign currency bank accounts abroad and
make transactions using these accounts.
- He/ she has the
permission to continue with his/her business running abroad,
even after immigrating to India.
- He/ she has
full liberty to use or gift their foreign assets to anyone
across the globe.
- He/ she can
earn and retain abroad pensions even after returning to
India.
Are NRIs allowed
to take their gold and silver belongings with them on
Immigration to India?
Yes. They can. The Government has permitted NRI(s) to legally
import gold and silver in any form including ornaments. But,
they cannot take the jewelry studded with pearls and stones,
provided, NRI should be revisiting India, after a period of
not less than six months.
Do I have the permission to
sell my metal assets (gold/silver) on immigration to
India?
Although, you can sell the metals but your earnings are liable
to tax deductions. The following are two ways in which the
sales tax can be levied on metal sales with the intentions of
the seller and term of holding playing significant
role:
A) Business Income: It is when seller wanted to
make profits out of any business opportunity.
B) Capital gains:
In case, the seller wanted to hold it as capital
asset.
How can any NRI
acquire citizenship of
India?
Any NRI returning to India with the intention to permanently
reside in the country can acquire Indian citizenship. However,
any Person of Indian Origin (PIO) residing outside India can
acquire citizenship of India through the following
channels:
- By Birth
- By Descent
- By Registration
- By
naturalization
The interested individual needs a minimum of 5 years residence
in India to register for Indian
citizenship.