Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many NRIs run Kerala businesses remotely with a trusted management team and strong governance: monthly MIS, audits, clear delegation, and tight vendor and cash controls.
A PAN card (Permanent Account Number) is a vital identification document issued by the Income Tax Department to all taxpayers in India. It is a 10-digit alphanumeric code that records all tax-related information for individuals and entities. The PAN card acts as a primary key for financial transactions, making it a mandatory document for banking, tax filing, and business registration.
If you do not have one PAN Card already, to apply, visit the official NSDL portal and fill appropriate form and pay fees. PAN card will be processed and dispatched by 15 days.
If you are planning to register a Company or LLP for your investment, PAN will be issued along with that process and hence no need to apply separately.
Kerala operates online clearance pathways such as K-SWIFT for facilitating multiple clearances and tracking progress. You can avail services through Sherpa Portal.
Start with residential status and banking alignment, then plan your business funding route and next steps. Please check below table.
| Profile | Checklist |
|---|---|
| NRI investing from abroad | Choose route; confirm compliance approach; define governance and reporting cadence. |
| NRI returnee (moving back) | Plan account redesignation; pick an operator-friendly model; set compliance and accounting from day 1. |
| All investors | Check incentives early; map approvals; validate feasibility before land/lease/capex. |
Your entity structure affects fundraising, governance, compliance workload, and how smoothly you can bring in capital.
- Private Limited Company: preferred for scaling and investor-friendly equity structures.
- LLP: popular for professional/services businesses with flexible operations.
- Proprietorship/Partnership: simpler, but typically less suitable for structured multi-party investment and governance.
Sherpa through their Strategic Partners can help you to select the right structure and legally incorporate the entity.
Most NRI and returnee investments in Kerala fall into one (or a combination) of the following four options:
Option 1: Start your own business (Greenfield)
You incorporate an entity and build from scratch.
- Best for: returnees and hands-on owners
- Advantages: highest control and long-term value creation
- Key needs: location fit, approvals mapping, strong team hiring
Option 2: Invest in an existing business (Brownfield)
You invest into a running Kerala business to expand and scale.
- Best for: investors seeking faster execution and existing cashflows
- Key needs: due diligence, governance, monthly reporting, and clear investor rights
Option 3: Co-invest / Joint venture with a local operator
You bring capital and systems; the partner brings execution and local operations.
- Best for: NRIs abroad who want managed execution
- Key needs: contracts, decision rights, KPIs, audit clauses, and exit terms
Option 4: Thematic or opportunity-led investments (Platform-guided)
Instead of starting with a fixed business idea, you choose from curated, vetted opportunities and proceed with structured support for feasibility, approvals, and stakeholder coordination. This approach is popular with investors who want clarity and speed, especially when investing remotely.
Focus on Kerala opportunity sectors with strong NRI fit, rather than chasing trends. Pick sectors that match Kerala's structural strengths and your execution and management capabilities.
Healthcare, Wellness, and Senior Living Ecosystems
Kerala's demand for quality healthcare services, rehabilitation, and organised senior care is rising - creating space for services and operator-led networks beyond hospitals.
- Assisted living and home nursing networks
- Diagnostics, rehab, and physiotherapy centres
- Medical tourism support services (coordination, recovery stays, patient experience)
Tourism and hospitality (responsible, premium, local)
Kerala's tourism strength is real, but success depends on differentiation. Consider experience-led models rather than generic rooms.
- Curated stays and premium homestay brands (with standardised service)
- Wellness retreats and long-stay recovery experiences
- Destination services, guided experiences, and local cultural products
Food, Agro-processing, and branded Kerala products
Kerala-origin products have strong domestic and global pull. The opportunity is in value addition, packaging, quality control, and brand-building.
- Spice and specialty food value addition
- Ready-to-cook/ready-to-eat packaged brands
- Cold-chain enabled distribution for premium perishables
IT, services exports, and global delivery from Kerala
For many NRIs, services and technology offer the fastest start with the least capex. Kerala's talent pool supports global delivery models.
- IT services, cybersecurity, analytics, design and creative studios
- Back-office and compliance outsourcing for global clients
- SaaS and product startups (with structured governance and runway)
Responsible industry and manufacturing in priority sectors
If you have higher capital and a strong operating plan, manufacturing and industrial services can work well - especially when aligned to policy-supported priority sectors and incentive structures.
