Invest in India - Smarter, Safer.
India's large and diverse NRI community deserves a platform to help explore various investment avenues / navigate regulations, and stay up to date with the changing financial landscape.
Overview
India has one of the largest expat communities in the world
NRIs invest via NRE accounts (foreign earnings tax-free, fully repatriable) or NRO accounts (Indian income limited repatriation).
4 Steps
Mandatory Pre-Requisites
Before you invest, get these right
These are non-negotiable. Ideally all NRIs are advised to follow the below 4 steps
NRE / NRO Bank Account
A regular resident savings account cannot be used. NRE is ideal for repatriating foreign earnings; NRO manages Indian income.
PAN Card
Mandatory for all financial transactions in India. Without a PAN you cannot open a demat account, invest in mutual funds, or trade equities.
KYC Compliance
Requires passport, overseas address proof (often notarized), and a photograph. Video-KYC or In-Person Verification may be required.
Demat & Trading Account
Necessary for investing in stocks and mutual funds. Must be linked to your NRE or NRO bank account and tied to a portfolio investment scheme (PIS), an RBI framework mandatory for NRI's to trade in Indian equities.
Step 02 — Primary Investment Options
Where do NRI's in general invest
Six primary avenues, each with its own access requirements, tax treatment, and return potential. INVULB, via its pension platform, will soon launch innovative products specific for NRI's.
Mutual Funds
Professional fund management, diversification, and accessibility via NRE or NRO accounts. SIPs are allowed and recommended for disciplined wealth creation.
Direct Equities (Stocks)
NRIs can invest in Indian stocks via Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) through designated bank branches. Only delivery-based trading — intraday is strictly prohibited.
Fixed Deposits (FDs)
NRE FDs offer tax-free interest in India and are fully repatriable. NRO FDs are taxable but suitable for income earned within India. Both offer capital safety.
Real Estate
NRIs can buy residential and commercial property in India. Buy once, consult a lawyer, verify RERA registration no., explore Power of Attorney (PoA).
GIFT City
Gujarat's GIFT City is a special economic zone allowing NRIs to invest in foreign currency — treated as a foreign-to-foreign transaction, opening global instruments.
National Pension Scheme
NRIs aged 18-60 can open an eNPS account and build a retirement corpus in India. Contributions via NRE or NRO account, eligible for tax deductions.
Step 03 — Regulations and Taxation
Know the rules before you transfer
Understanding the rules around repatriation, trading, and tax is non-negotiable for every NRI investor.
Key Regulations
- NRE Account Repatriation
- Fully Repatriable
- NRO Account Repatriation
- USD 1M / year
- Secondary Market Trading
- PIS Mandatory
- Intraday Trading
- Prohibited for NRIs
- Delivery-Based Trading
- Permitted
- Agricultural Land Purchase
- Not Permitted
Taxation for NRIs
- NRE Account Interest
- Tax-Free in India
- NRO Account Interest
- Taxable in India
- Short-Term Capital Gains
- < 1 year holding period
- Long-Term Capital Gains
- > 1 year holding period
- Property Sale Gains
- STCG / LTCG by duration
- DTAA Benefit
- Treaty benefit available
Step 04 — Investor Education
Product vs. Process - know the difference
When investing, understand the key difference between a product purchase and an ongoing process.
We're building something for you. Stay Tuned.
INVULB will soon launch products focused exclusively on NRI investors. As of now, NRIs can invest in Pension Plans and Mutual Funds as per existing KYC requirements. Government of India (GoI) is simplifying NRI investments & KYC requirements for Indians.