NRI Guide — India 2026
Free guides for Non-Resident Indians in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and beyond. OCI card, passport renewal, property rights, NRE/NRO banking, income tax and more — plain English, no jargon, updated June 2026.
OCI Card
Most PopularOverseas Citizen of India card — lifetime visa, live & work in India. Who qualifies, documents, $275 fee, 4–8 week processing.
- ✓ Lifetime multiple-entry visa
- ✓ $275 fee (adults), $25 (minors)
- ✓ 4–8 weeks processing
- ✓ Apply at passport.gov.in
Indian Passport Renewal Abroad
EssentialRenew Indian passport from USA, UK, Canada or Australia. VFS Global, documents needed, fees by country, Tatkal option.
- ✓ VFS Global appointment
- ✓ $120 USA / £92 UK
- ✓ 4–6 weeks standard
- ✓ Tatkal: 2–3 weeks
NRE vs NRO Bank Account
High ValueNRE: tax-free, fully repatriable foreign income. NRO: Indian income, 30% TDS. Which to open and how.
- ✓ NRE: tax-free interest
- ✓ NRO: 30% TDS (reducible via DTAA)
- ✓ Open online via video KYC
- ✓ NRE FD rates 7–8% p.a.
NRI Property in India
High ValueBuy, sell, rent Indian property as NRI. FEMA rules, capital gains tax, 20% TDS, repatriation of proceeds.
- ✓ Can buy residential/commercial
- ✓ Cannot buy agricultural land
- ✓ 20% LTCG tax (with indexation)
- ✓ $1M/year repatriation limit
Power of Attorney from Abroad
For PropertyGive POA to family/lawyer in India for property, banking, legal matters. Notarisation, apostille, how to use in India.
- ✓ Notarise + apostille abroad
- ✓ USA: Secretary of State apostille
- ✓ Courier original to India
- ✓ Register at Sub-Registrar
NRI Aadhaar Card
IdentityNRIs eligible after 182 days in India. Update address from abroad online. Essential for NRE/NRO banking and property.
- ✓ Eligible: 182+ days in India
- ✓ Update address online ₹50
- ✓ Mobile update: visit India
- ✓ Free enrolment
NRI Income Tax India
FilingNRIs taxed on India income only — rent, capital gains, NRO interest. ITR-2 filing, DTAA benefits, TDS refund.
- ✓ File if Indian income > ₹3 lakh
- ✓ 30% TDS on NRO interest
- ✓ DTAA reduces to 15% (USA/UK)
- ✓ Claim TDS refund via ITR-2
NRI Rights & Services in India — What You Need to Know
Identity & Status
The OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card is the most important document for NRIs — it gives a lifetime visa to visit, live, and work in India without requiring a separate visa. PIO cards (issued before 2015) have been merged into OCI. Aadhaar is available to NRIs who spend 182+ days in India in a year and is increasingly required for banking and property transactions.
Banking & Finance
NRIs must convert their resident Indian savings accounts to NRO accounts after becoming non-resident. NRE accounts are used for foreign income — interest is fully tax-free and funds are freely repatriable. NRE Fixed Deposits currently offer 7–8% annual interest, making them attractive compared to savings rates in the USA, UK, or Canada.
Property Rights
NRIs and OCI cardholders can freely purchase residential and commercial property in India — no RBI permission is needed. Agricultural land, plantation property, and farmhouse property cannot be purchased. On selling property, the buyer deducts TDS of 20% (long-term) or 30% (short-term). Sale proceeds can be repatriated up to $1 million per financial year.
Taxation
NRIs are taxed in India only on income sourced in India — rent, capital gains from Indian property or shares, and NRO account interest. Foreign salary and overseas investments are not taxable in India. India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) with 90+ countries including the USA, UK, Canada, UAE, and Australia, preventing NRIs from paying tax twice on the same income.
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