Q.869 Go to Nepal for few days

to complete days required for NRI

status

Question: Good day I have a doubt regarding nri status. Since working in merchant navy and complying 8 out of 10 years as nri but i have few days shorter for nri status. Can i visit bhutqn or nepal to complete these days. Regards K malhotra [March 22, 2016] Answer: Regarding your question of going to Nepal to complete shortage of a few days to qualify for NRI status, your intention to leave India for Nepal or Bhutan should be OK as far as the definition of NRI status is concerned which requires an individual to be out of India for a set number of days per year and Nepal is certainly not India. However, there are few points to clarify in this regard: The burden of proof about the status of resident or non-resident lies on the assessee only. While this is easy to do when traveling to several foreign countries, when it comes to Nepal or Bhutan there can be problems. Read on . . . Indian citizens traveling between India and Nepal I believe do not require a visa to enter Nepal. They can travel on the basis of documents such as any photo identity card issued by the Government of India, or any State Government or Union Territory Administration in India, or the Election Commission of India such as a voters card. Since travel between India and Nepal is not well documented, it does become difficult to prove that the person did indeed stay in Nepal or Bhutan for a set number of days. Different rules regarding number of days for NRI status apply to those who work as seamen, however I assume you must be aware of these rules, having worked in the merchant navy for so many years.