Tax Consultant
1489 Points
Posted on 18 June 2026
NRI status is always determined on a financial year basis, not on the day you complete 182 days.
At the end of each financial year (April 1 to March 31), you count the number of days you stayed in India during that year. If you stayed for 182 days or more during the financial year, you are Resident for that year. If fewer than 182 days, you are NRI for that year.
There is no mid-year switch. Completing 182 days outside India on, say, November 15 does not make you an NRI from November 15. Your residential status for the entire FY is determined at year-end based on total days of stay.
For people close to the threshold, also check the secondary test:
- If you stayed 60 days or more in this FY AND 365 or more days in the preceding 4 FYs combined, you are Resident even if you stayed for less than 182 days this year. This rule has an exception for Indian citizens who went abroad for employment or as crew members.
After returning to India after many years abroad, you may qualify for RNOR (Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident) status for up to 3 years, which exempts your foreign income from Indian tax.
This [RNOR status and income tax guide for 2026](https://taxgarden.in/blog/rnor-resident-not-ordinarily-resident-income-tax-india-2026) explains the exact tests and which income is taxable at each stage of returning to India.