Americans who want to live in India have an advantage. They can get a ten-year multiple entry tourist visa, and stay up to six months per entry. Furthermore, they only have to stay out of the country for a few days before they can return. It doesn't allow them to work, but for retirees it is ideal.

The visa only costs $50 more than a regular visa, so that is what I got when I was traveling in India. The regular visa is $100, and I figured that since it is good for ten years, I might as well just get it.