Non-resident Indian
Also called: NRI · Topic: Citizenship: Idea and Indian Law · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A Non-resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen who lives outside India. The label comes from tax and foreign exchange law, which counts how many days a person stays in India. Because NRIs are still citizens, they keep their political rights. Since 2010, Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act has let NRIs register as overseas electors, meaning voters living abroad. They must still come to India and vote in person.
Example
An Indian software engineer who works in Dubai and keeps an Indian passport is an NRI. They can enrol as an overseas elector in their home constituency, but must travel back to vote.
Don't confuse with
- Overseas Citizen of India (OCI): an OCI cardholder is a foreign citizen of Indian origin, not an Indian citizen. OCI cardholders cannot vote. NRIs can.
Related concepts
- Renunciation of citizenship
- Termination of citizenship
- Deprivation of citizenship
- Person of Indian Origin card
- Overseas Citizenship of India