From Sweden you can sell or buy Indian property through an attorney holder authorised by a power of attorney certified and apostilled by a notarius publicus. On a sale, the buyer deducts TDS at NRI rates on the full price unless you obtain a lower deduction certificate. Sale proceeds go into your NRO account and can be remitted to Sweden up to USD 1 million per financial year after Form 15CA and 15CB. NRIs and OCI cardholders can buy residential and commercial property but not agricultural land.
- Document route
- Notarius publicus certifies and issues the apostille
- Time difference
- India is 3h30 (summer) to 4h30 (winter) ahead
- Rules
- FEMA (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules 2019
- Not allowed to buy
- Agricultural land, plantation, farmhouse
Buying & Selling Property from Sweden: how it works
For a sale we verify title, outstanding dues and society or builder no objection certificates, then negotiate the sale agreement with the buyer's lawyer. If your actual gain is small, we apply to the tax department for a lower deduction certificate before the deal closes, which can take several weeks. Your attorney holder signs and registers the sale deed, and the buyer pays into your NRO account. We file your Indian tax return to report the gain and claim any refund.
For a purchase, we check title, approvals and RERA registration of the project, and confirm that payment will come from your NRE or NRO account or from Sweden through banking channels, as FEMA requires. Home loans from Indian banks are available to NRIs. After registration we complete mutation in municipal or revenue records. Keep records of every payment; you will need them both for Indian repatriation and for the Swedish authorities.
What clients in Sweden should know
- Capital gains on Indian property are taxed in India, and Sweden generally taxes residents on worldwide gains with credit for Indian tax under the treaty.
- If you became a Swedish citizen, you buy as an OCI cardholder, and agricultural land is excluded.
- Repatriation of sale proceeds from property bought with foreign exchange can be made in full up to the amount originally paid in foreign exchange, for up to two residential properties.
Step by step from Sweden
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Sweden, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Sweden
Notarius publicus certifies and issues the apostille
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Sweden where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Sweden. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Buying & Selling Property, or see all services for clients in Sweden and the NRI Property Law practice area.
Questions from clients in Sweden
Do I need to come to India for registration?
Usually not, if you have a valid apostilled power of attorney and the local registrar accepts it.
How long does a remote sale take?
Often one to two months after the buyer is found.
Can I buy property jointly with my non-Indian spouse?
A foreign spouse who is not an OCI holder faces restrictions; take advice on FEMA before signing.