§00 · NRI · INVEST FROM ABROAD · 6 TOPICS

Indian markets
from anywhere in the world.

Taxation, repatriation, account structures, FEMA rules, mutual fund eligibility, and equity access — the full picture for NRIs and returning residents investing in India.

Reviewed · January 2026 · SEBI APRN-01658

Topics

Everything you need to invest from abroad.

Account types — NRE, NRO, RFC

Open the right banking account for your investing goals. NRE for repatriable funds, NRO for India-sourced income, RFC for returning NRIs.

Taxation for NRIs

TDS rates on capital gains, interest, and dividends. DTAA benefits across India–US, India–UK, India–UAE, India–Singapore.

FEMA & repatriation

What is repatriable, what is not, and how much you can repatriate from your NRO account per year (USD 1 million ceiling).

Mutual fund access

Which AMCs accept NRIs from your country (especially the US/Canada). Direct vs Regular plans. KYC and FATCA basics.

Currency hedging

Hedging INR exposure for income or wealth-preservation goals — NRE FDs, INR-hedged funds, currency overlays.

Equity access

Trade Indian equities under the PIS scheme. Brokerage workflow, repatriation buckets, intraday eligibility.

FAQs

Frequently asked by NRIs.

Can NRIs invest in Indian mutual funds?

Yes — most Indian AMCs accept NRIs. US- and Canada-resident NRIs face FATCA-related restrictions; only a subset of AMCs accept them. We list AMC-by-AMC eligibility on each fund page.

Do I need a PAN and KYC?

Yes. PAN is mandatory. KYC can be completed online via CAMS/KFintech, with passport, OCI/PIO card (if applicable), and overseas address proof.

What is the tax on capital gains?

Listed equity STCG (held <12 months) is 20%; LTCG (>12 months) is 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh exemption. Debt funds are taxed at slab rate from FY 2023-24 onward. Indexation withdrawn for debt funds post-April 2023.

What is the difference between NRE and NRO accounts?

NRE (Non-Resident External) accounts hold foreign-sourced income and are fully repatriable — principal and interest are freely remittable. NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) accounts hold India-sourced income (rent, dividends, pensions) and are subject to a USD 1 million annual repatriation ceiling after tax compliance.

Can NRIs trade Indian equities?

Yes, under the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) operated through a designated bank. NRIs cannot trade intraday; all positions must be delivery-based. Repatriation is split into NRE (foreign funds, fully repatriable) and NRO (India-sourced, USD 1M ceiling) buckets.

Is MintByte SEBI registered to advise NRIs?

MintByte (APRN-01658) is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst and AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor (ARN-314872). We publish research and factual information; we do not provide personalised investment advice. Consult a qualified RIA for advice specific to your domicile and tax situation.

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We'll point you to the right resources. (We do not provide investment advice — SEBI RIA registration in process.)

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Mutual fund schemes are subject to market risk. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. Past performance is not indicative of future results. MintByte is an AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor (ARN-314872). MintByte does not issue buy/sell recommendations on specific securities — the site is an educational data and analytics platform. Not investment advice. Methodology · How we earn.

Indian marketsfrom anywhere in the world.