Visitor questions and answers - page 4

Page 4 of 4 in our reader-submitted Q&A series. See page 1, page 2 and page 3 for the rest. The first three questions on this page touch on OCI cardholder property and remittance rules, which are governed by the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Reserve Bank of India — verify the current rule with a chartered accountant or your bank before acting.

Note: Information on this page is general guidance, not legal or tax advice. NRI / OCI property and remittance rules in India are detailed and subject to change. For any significant transaction, consult a chartered accountant, a foreign-exchange-licensed bank or an immigration advisor.

1. How much can I transfer from India to the UK or USA each year as an OCI?

I'm a British citizen with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. How much can I transfer from India to the UK to buy property? Is there a yearly limit?

Under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and the related rules for NRIs / OCIs:

• Up to US$ 1 million per financial year can be remitted out of India by an NRI / OCI from the balance in their NRO account (the account that holds Indian-source income) — including funds from sale of property, inheritance, dividends, rent, etc.
• This requires submission of Form 15CA / 15CB by a chartered accountant for tax compliance.
• Capital gains tax applies on the Indian-side sale that generated the funds — short-term and long-term rates differ, and the calculation interacts with TDS at the time of sale.

The detail is genuinely complex; for any meaningful transaction, work through your bank's NRI desk and a chartered accountant.

2. Can I keep agricultural land I already own after taking British citizenship?

If I already own agricultural property in India and become a British citizen, is it OK to continue owning it?

Yes — inherited agricultural land can be retained by a British citizen with OCI status. The restriction in Indian law is on fresh purchase of agricultural land by NRIs / OCIs, not on the holding of property already legitimately owned or inherited. Long-held agricultural property predating change of citizenship can usually be retained.

This said, the rules around agricultural land are stricter than those for residential or commercial property; if you intend to sell or transfer the land, get a chartered accountant's view first.

3. Inheriting agricultural land as a British citizen with OCI

If I inherit agricultural property from my parents and I'm a British citizen with OCI, is that a problem?

No — inheritance is generally allowed regardless of citizenship. Indian succession law allows OCIs and NRIs to inherit any kind of property in India, including agricultural land. The restriction is on outright purchase of agricultural land by NRIs / OCIs, not on inheritance.

After inheriting:

• You may retain the land indefinitely.
• You may sell it, but only to a person resident in India (i.e. an Indian citizen / resident; not to another NRI or OCI).
• Capital gains tax applies on any sale — get the cost-basis right (inherited property uses the prior owner's cost or the indexed value depending on holding period and type).

4. Finding a car and driver online — and a two-week south India itinerary

How do I find a car and driver via the web? Can you suggest a good two-week south India itinerary?

For finding a reliable car-and-driver service:

• Hotel concierge at any reputable hotel — usually the lowest-friction option.
• Established travel-agency websites (MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Yatra) for chauffeur-driven car rentals.
• Direct from established local operators with proper Ministry of Tourism / IATO accreditation. See How to choose a tour operator in India for what to look for.
• App services (Savaari, Zoomcar with driver, Drivezy) for shorter daily / multi-day rentals.

See Finding a reliable car and driver in India for typical pricing and the negotiation points.

A practical two-week south India itinerary

Two weeks gives you time for Kerala backwaters, Mysore, Hampi, and a bit of Goa — the south-Indian "highlights" loop most foreign visitors want.

• Days 1–2: Bengaluru — fly in, recover, maybe a day at Lalbagh or Cubbon Park; drive to Mysore.
• Days 3–4: Mysore — Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, Tipu Sultan's Palace at Srirangapatna, Brindavan Gardens. Day trip to Somnathpur Hoysala temple.
• Days 5–6: Hampi — fly Bengaluru → Hubballi or train to Hospet, then drive to Hampi. Two full days for the Vijayanagara ruins (Virupaksha, Vittala Temple stone chariot, Hemakuta Hill, the royal enclosure).
• Days 7–8: Wayanad or Coorg — depending on whether you want tea-and-coffee plantation country (Coorg) or wildlife (Wayanad).
• Days 9–10: Munnar — drive across to Kerala for tea estates and the cool air. Eravikulam National Park if it's the right season.
• Days 11–12: Alleppey backwaters — a houseboat overnight on Vembanad Lake, the iconic Kerala experience.
• Day 13: Fort Kochi — colonial-era walled town, the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church (where Vasco da Gama was originally buried), spice market.
• Day 14: Cochin → Goa (fly) — half-day in Goa for a beach evening, then home from Goa or back via Mumbai.

Flexible alternatives:

• Replace Hampi with Pondicherry / Mahabalipuram / Chennai for a Tamil-Nadu-and-temple-coast loop.
• Replace Wayanad/Coorg with Madurai (Meenakshi Amman) and Thanjavur (Brihadeeswara) for more south-Indian temple country.
• Add an extra night in Bengaluru and a morning in Mysore Devaraja Market for shopping (sandalwood, silk, coffee).

See:

• Kerala visitors guide
• Munnar visitor's guide
• Kumarakom touring guide

5. Should we book train tickets in advance or wait until arrival?

Should we reserve train tickets in advance, or wait until we get to India?

Almost always book in advance — particularly:

• Fast/premium trains (Vande Bharat, Tejas, Shatabdi, Rajdhani) on busy routes.
• Weekend services to popular destinations (Goa, Agra, hill stations).
• Festival season (October–February).

For foreign tourists, the Foreign Tourist Quota (FTQ) lets you book up to 365 days in advance, and FTQ seats are released first. This is the most reliable way to lock in confirmed berths on premium routes.

You can usually walk up and book on shorter routes 1–2 days ahead at the International Tourist Bureau of any major station — but for a multi-city itinerary you don't want to spend half your trip in railway booking offices. Book the long-haul segments online before you leave home; book short connections as you go.

See How to make train reservations online in India and How to buy train tickets without a local Indian mobile phone for the booking process.

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• Visitor questions, page 1
• Visitor questions, page 2
• Visitor questions, page 3