Financial Repression Tracker

Rules that steer savings into government debt or hold returns below inflation, country by country.

Block · Real asset restrictions

Restrictions on financing foreign real-estate purchases

What it is
Ban, license or cap resident purchases of foreign real estate by controlling access to foreign exchange and outward remittances. Anti-splitting rules prevent pooling allowances or mislabeling payments as travel expenses.
Why it counts
Savings that cannot readily buy foreign property remain more exposed to domestic currency, inflation and regulated financial claims.

When it was in force

  • China: 2014 → 2015, historical; the rule may be older than the cited document; its end is not documented
  • India: 2015, historical; the rule may be older than the cited document; its end is not documented

2 examples

  1. China

    2014 → 2015Historical

    The rule may be older than the cited document · Its end is not documented · As cited: 2014 violation; 2015 published enforcement

    SAFE fined a resident who pooled 23 individuals' foreign-exchange purchases declared as travel money to buy Australian property.

    Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Foreign Exchange Administration; SAFE enforcement circular of 18 September 2015Primary source
    “using RMB for the purpose of individual "overseas travel", and remitted the money to Australia for Zhao to buy an overseas property.”

    safe.gov.cn (opens in a new tab)Checked: quote matched on the page by script

    China today: index 59.5

  2. India

    2015Historical

    The rule may be older than the cited document · Its end is not documented · As cited: 2015 introduction of cited USD 250,000 limit

    Purchase of property abroad was permitted within the aggregate USD 250,000 annual individual remittance allowance.

    RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular 106, 1 June 2015, paragraphs 2-4; Liberalised Remittance SchemePrimary source
    “AD banks may now allow remittances by a resident individual up to USD 250,000 per financial year”

    rbi.org.in (opens in a new tab)Checked: quote matched on the page by script

    India today: index 60.6

Examples and their dates reviewed .