Can I buy land in Lakshadweep?

Total Ban on Outsiders

No, outsiders cannot buy land in Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep has strict tribal protection laws and administrative controls.

There is severe land scarcity: only 32 sq km across all 36 islands, for a population of approximately 65,000–70,000.

All categories of land are restricted for outsiders

Agricultural landResidential landCommercial landForest landInherited landGovernment-allotted land

All forms of land transfer to non-indigenous persons are prohibited

SalePurchaseGiftExchangeMortgageLease

36islands,

All islands are fully restricted to outsider land purchases

There is no standard legal process for outsiders to obtain land ownership permission.

Any land acquired illegally by non-residents is subject to immediate seizure by the Lakshadweep Administration.

Neither purchase nor lease is practically available outside the tourism sector.

What outsiders can do

Enter approximately 25–30 year leasehold arrangements for tourism projects only.
Operate within extensive restrictions on use, structure type, and operational scope set by the UT Administration.

Disclaimer · benami arrangements are a criminal offence

Buying land in another person's name to circumvent state-origin, residency, occupation or tribal-area restrictions is a benami arrangement, prohibited under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (as amended in 2016).
Penalty: 1 to 7 years rigorous imprisonment plus a fine of up to 25% of the property's fair-market value.
The property can be confiscated by the Government of India and the deed cancelled.
Power-of-attorney workarounds, ownership-mimic 99-year leases, and shell-company structures are not recognised — do not attempt them.

Sources