For NRI and OCI buyers: what you may buy in Amaravati and how
The most important rule first. NRIs and OCIs can buy LPS plots, because those plots are not agricultural land. They cannot buy agricultural land.
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What FEMA allows
The category is decided by the revenue record, not by what you plan to do with the land. If a parcel is recorded as agricultural, an NRI cannot buy it, even to build a house on later. Penalties can go up to three times the purchase value, along with confiscation.
| Property | NRI / OCI |
|---|---|
| LPS residential plot | Allowed, no RBI approval, no limit on number |
| LPS commercial plot | Allowed |
| Agricultural land, plantation, farmhouse | Purchase and gift not generally permitted; inheritance is subject to FEMA conditions |
How an NRI purchase works
- Pay from an NRE, NRO or FCNR account, or by inward remittance. No cash, and no money from a third country.
- If you cannot attend the registration, appoint a power-of-attorney holder in India. The PoA should be specific. If it is signed abroad, it must be attested at the Indian mission and adjudicated in AP.
- TDS applies when an NRI sells. When an NRI buys from a resident, the normal TDS rules apply above the threshold.
- Every check on our legal checklist applies to you. The LPS certificate check matters even more, because you are far from the land.
Questions people ask
Can an NRI buy agricultural land in Amaravati?
No. FEMA does not allow NRIs and OCIs to buy agricultural land, plantations or farmhouses anywhere in India. LPS returnable plots are not agricultural land, so they can be bought.
Does an NRI need RBI permission to buy an LPS plot?
No. NRIs and OCIs do not need prior RBI approval to buy residential or commercial property.
Want a straight answer about a plot or a village?
We live and work in the capital villages. Send the survey number or LP number and we will tell you what we know, including the things that should make you pause.