Under the general permission available, the following categories can freely purchase immovable property in India: i) Non-Resident Indian (NRI) – that is a citizen of India resident outside India ii) Person of Indian Origin (PIO) – that is an individual (not being a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh or Sri Lanka or Afghanistan or China or Iran or Nepal or Bhutan), who • At any time, held Indian passport, or Who or either of whose father or grandfather was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955). The general permission, however, covers only purchase of residential and commercial property.