NRI Guide
The NRI's guide to buying in Bengaluru
FEMA, funding, PoA, TDS — and how to buy well without flying down every month.
Updated 2026-07-11
What NRIs can (and can't) buy
Under India's FEMA framework, NRIs and OCI cardholders can freely buy residential and commercial property in Bengaluru — no count limits, no special permission. What's off the table: agricultural land, farmhouses and plantation property, which can generally only be inherited, not purchased. Everything on this page's data side — corridor prices, area profiles — applies to you exactly as it does to resident buyers; it's the money trail and paperwork that differ.
The money trail: accounts, loans, repatriation
Purchase funds must flow through banking channels — typically your NRE or NRO account (or FCNR deposits); suitcase rupees don't work and shouldn't. NRI home loans are widely available from Indian banks, with the EMI serviced from those same accounts. Think about repatriation before you buy, not after: rules differ for funds that came in through NRE versus income earned in India, and they shape your exit — settle the channel with a banker or CA up front.
Buying from 8,000 miles away
The remote-buying stack, in order: shortlist remotely — 3D tours replace the first two site visits, and a Fifsee AI report gives you corridor-level ground truth your relatives' opinions can't; verify ruthlessly — the full Karnataka document stack (title chain, Encumbrance Certificate, khata, RERA for under-construction) checked by an independent lawyer, not the seller's; then close via Power of Attorney — a properly executed PoA (attested at the Indian consulate, then adjudicated in Karnataka) lets a trusted person register on your behalf. Thousands of NRI purchases close this way every year; the ones that go wrong usually skipped step two.
Ground truth, from anywhere on Earth
A Fifsee AI report gives you Bengaluru corridor data, price benchmarks and negotiation strategy — no matter which timezone you're deciding from.
Get your free AI report →The taxes you'll meet
Three tax touchpoints to plan for: TDS at purchase (the buyer's obligation, with different rules when the seller is an NRI versus a resident), tax on rental income if you let the flat out, and capital gains with TDS implications when you eventually sell. Rates and thresholds shift with budgets — get a chartered accountant who handles NRI files before the token advance, not at filing season. This page is orientation, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can NRIs buy property in Bengaluru?
Yes — residential and commercial property freely under FEMA; agricultural land is off-limits.
Do NRIs pay extra tax when buying?
Buying costs match resident buyers, but TDS obligations differ — notably 1% TDS over ₹50 lakh, and higher TDS applies when NRIs sell.
Can an NRI buy property in Bengaluru without visiting India?
Yes — shortlist remotely (3D tours and data reports), have documents verified by an independent lawyer, and register via a consulate-attested Power of Attorney held by someone you trust.
Which account should the purchase money come from?
Your NRE or NRO account (or FCNR deposits) — the channel you use also shapes what you can repatriate when you sell, so decide with a banker or CA up front.