India has no retirement visa. Long-stay options include an Entry (X) visa for people of Indian origin or spouses of citizens, and the lifelong OCI card for foreign nationals of Indian origin, which allows living in and owning most property in India.
A few things to line up early:
Visa rules change often — treat this as a starting point and confirm the latest official requirements before you plan.
Remember: buying a home and gaining the right to live there are usually separate steps. See how ownership works in India, and what it costs to live there in our cost-of-retiring guide.
A returning retiree usually gets 'resident but not ordinarily resident' (RNOR) status for the first two to three years, during which foreign income such as a UK pension isn't taxed in India; once ordinarily resident, worldwide income becomes taxable. Under the default new regime, income up to about 12 lakh is effectively tax-free and rates run to 30%, with the UK-India treaty giving further relief.
Private hospitals in the big cities (Apollo, Fortis, Max) are modern and very good, with English-speaking doctors and costs far below the UK, while the public system is overstretched. Most expats take private or international insurance, which is affordable by Western standards though premiums climb with age. English is very widely spoken as a link language in business and education, and they drive on the left; traffic is chaotic and normal care pays off, but the expat-favoured areas are settled and friendly.
Goa for beaches and a long-established, laid-back Western scene; Kerala and Kochi for the greener, calmer south; French-flavoured coastal Puducherry; and cosmopolitan Bengaluru for its mild climate and strong private healthcare.
Thinking seriously about India?
Two honest Brits, a private call, and straight answers — see if a freehold home abroad is a fit for you.
See if you qualify →