RBI/2011/12/399
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 79

February 15, 2012

 To

All Authorised Dealers in Foreign Exchange

Madam / Sir,

Clarification - Purchase of Immovable Property in India –
Reporting requirement

Attention of Authorised Dealer Category-I banks is invited to Regulation 5 of Notification No. FEMA 21/2000-RB viz. Foreign Exchange Management (Acquisition and Transfer of Immovable Property in India), Regulations, 2000 dated May 3, 2000, as amended from time to time. In terms of the above Regulation, when a person resident outside India, who has established in India in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Establishment in India of Branch or Office or other Place of Business) Regulations, 2000, a branch, office or other place of business, excluding a liaison office, acquires any immovable property in India in accordance with the provision of said regulation, the said person has to file with the Reserve Bank a declaration in the form IPI annexed to those regulations, not later than ninety days from the date of such acquisition. As the form is required to be submitted by such persons only, the form is suitably amended to reflect the position.

2.  It is clarified that the extant regulations do not prescribe any reporting requirements for transactions where a person resident outside India who is a citizen of India or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) as defined in Regulation 2(c) of Notification No. FEMA 21/2000-RB, ibid, acquire/s immovable property in India in accordance with the said provisions of the aforesaid Notification. Form IPI has been, accordingly, amended for greater clarity.

3. Authorised Dealer Category-I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.

4. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.

Yours faithfully,

(Meena Hemchandra)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge

Annex

[Annex to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 79
dated February 15, 2012]

Form IPI

(See Regulation 5)

Declaration of immovable property acquired in India by a person resident outside
India who has established in India a branch, office or other place of business,
excluding a liaison office

Instructions:

1. The declaration should be completed in duplicate and submitted directly to the Chief General Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, (Foreign Investment Division), Reserve Bank of India , Central Office , Mumbai – 400001 within 90 days from the date of acquisition of the immovable property.

2. This form is not to be submitted by a person resident outside India who is a citizen of India or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) acquiring immovable property in India under General Permission in accordance with Regulations 3 and 4 of Notification No. FEMA 21/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000.

Documentation:

Certified copies of letter of approval from Reserve Bank obtained under section 6(6) of FEMA, 1999 (42 of 1999).

I/ We hereby declare that-

(a)  the particulars given above are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief;

(b)  no portion of the said property has been leased /rented to, or is otherwise being allowed to be used by, any other party.

Encls:                                                                                                                                           -------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                          (Signature of Authorised official)

Stamp

Place: -------                                                                                                                                 Name:------------------------------
Date:--------                                                                                                                                  Designation:---------------------