goavag

Hi,
We are in the preliminary stages of thinking about opening a guest house in goa and wanted to know what kinds of permission we need from the local government there? any tips and advise as well as experiences (good and bad) will be very useful to us.
Many thanks and here's to keeping the dream alive!
Goavag

liveaboard

Unless you're brown and with an Indian background, don't do it.
If you do finally succeed, after a few years someone will decide you aren't an asset to India, and cancel your visa.
This has happened to almost everyone who has started a business in Goa.
And you absolutely can't buy property, no matter what anyone tells you. It will be blocked and ultimately confiscated.
Go to Goa on a tourist visa, enjoy your holiday, go home.
Believe me, I know; I lived there for half my life.

a_f_d

I agree - don't do it - there are related threads here and on IndiaMike; but afaik no-one has actually had property confiscated.

AndyD 8-)₹

liveaboard

That's not true; a Swiss couple had their guest house confiscated, it represented their life savings. It was in the news last year.
Practically every foreigner who bought land has had it frozen so they can't sell.
They're even trying to seize houses that are owned in the names of Goan people, based on [true] hearsay that there's a foreign owner.

babu1

Another Swiss couple watched their newly built house being demolished a few years ago in South Goa. They were given an hour to remove their belongings.

It was widely reported, violation of CRZ when all around them Goans were also in violation of CRZ but structures were not demolished.

Mambo's in Baga has a permanent CRZ violation demolition order on it but does a roaring trade all year round, every year, strange that? Likewise, Calypso who are great sponsors of everything panchayat.

a_f_d

The Swiss couple had a confiscation order issued against them - that's at least four levels of court and 25 years away from it actually being confiscated.

AndyD 8-)₹

a_f_d

Foreigners can't buy land.
Foreigners who have bought property are not being allowed to register purchase or sale. This is unlawful and is being challenged in the courts. Don't hold your breath though!

AndyD 8-)₹

dreadsoc

However it did completely destroy their lives. I have not been able to make contact with them for over 18 months now. since they left Goa after Augustus' stroke, so I am not actually sure as to whether they are even still alive (pray they both are).
Augustus was taken back to Switzerland within 3 months of that DoE order with a brain stroke and Ruth had bone cancer - all brought on by the stress of the D of E investigation.

And the saddest thing of all is that having seen all their paperwork they purchased the place by the book legally. The confiscation order was issued on the grounds that their residential x visa at the time of purchase had an end date therefore they could not fulfil the true definition of 'residency'.

Beware Goavag - trying to open a business in Goa is bad for your health if you;re a foreigner !!

Dread - x