For all sectors excluding those falling within the purview of the Government of India's approval, NRIs (which also includes Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)) and OCBs (an OCB means a company or other entity owned directly or indirectly to the extent of at least 60% by NRI's) are eligible to bring investment through the automatic route of the Reserve Bank of India. All other proposals, which do not fulfill any or all of the criteria for automatic approval, are considered by the Government through Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

The NRIs and OCBs are allowed to invest in housing and real estate development sectors, in which Foreign Direct Investment is otherwise not permitted. They are also allowed to hold 100% equity in the civil aviation sector in which otherwise foreign equity is permitted only upto 49%