NRIs Invest in India

Grow your wealth with the India growth potential!

Home is where the heart is! Childhood memories, friends and family make you visit India regardless of where you are settled now, may it be the Americas, Gulf, U.K or Europe. You want your children to experience and imbibe India’s culture first hand, while wanting to visit your parents, who have been instrumental in preparing you for the success and caring for you in the initial stages of your life.

You want to take care of your responsibilities towards your ageing parents as well as your motherland while laying a solid foundation for your children’s future and planning for your retirement. Wouldn’t it be great if you could take care of all the three generations with a single solution?

Why should NRIs Invest in India?

Investment in India can help NRIs secure their future value of money. It also a safe and secure option for NRIs wishing to stay close to their family members after retirement. It really helps India to grow and become world’s largest economy.
The best investment options in India for NRI's are Bank Fixed Deposits. Apart from this, other options of NRI can invest in Mutual Funds, Direct Equity, Real Estate, Investment in Bonds and Government Securities, Certificate of Deposits, National Pension Scheme (NPS), etc.
With some restrictions, investment opportunities for non-resident Indians (NRIs) are like that for resident Indians, provided they follow guidelines set by the RBI, FEMA and SEBI, and laws enacted by the country of their residence. Knowing about NRI investment options in India and rules that may apply will help you make the right investment choice.

Who is the NRI investor?

To understand NRI investment in India, it is important to determine that an individual investor is an NRI. An NRI (Non-Resident Indian) is a citizen of India but not a resident of India i.e., is now living outside India. Residential status of an individual, whether a resident or non-resident, is determined under Section 6 of the Income Tax Act.
As per Section 6 of ITA, a citizen of India is an NRI if he/she is not a resident in India, and an individual is deemed to be an Indian in any previous year if he/she meets any of the following criteria:

• 1. If an individual resided in India for a period of 182 days or more during the previous year: or


• 2. If he/she lived in India for a period of 60 days or more during the previous year and 365 days or more for 4 years immediately preceding the previous year.

An Indian citizen who does not meet the above-mentioned criteria is considered a non-resident Indian or NRI. However, the rules to determine the residential status of an individual change over time. Hence, you must be aware of new rules for NRIs.
Non-Resident Indians can explore one or many of the investment opportunities described below.

NRI Investment in India
While there are various options for NRIs to invest in India, it is not easy to sort out the best options for them.
In such situations, it is important to find an ideal NRI investment option that provides complete financial security and attractive returns. Some of the best investment options include direct equity, mutual funds, NRI fixed deposits, bonds, commercial real estate, pre-IPO, etc.

10 Best NRI Investment Options in India
Before investing in India, you need to find the perfect investment option that will offer the maximum possible returns. You need to consider some important points including investment plan, NRI account for investment, investment appetite, and applicable taxes.

• ● Non-Resident External (NRE) Account
• ● Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Account
• ● Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] Account.

Let’s understand these NRI fixed deposit accounts :

• Non-Resident External (NRE) Fixed Deposit:  NRE FD accounts are opened by NRIs to deposit their foreign earnings in Indian rupees. IRR ranges from 2.75% to 7% p.a. The interest earned in an NRE account is tax-free in India but may be taxed in your country of residence. Both the principal as well as the interest earned can be fully repatriated.


• Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Fixed Deposit:  NRIs can open an NRO Fixed Deposit account to maintain and save their income generated in India, such as dividends, rental income, pension, etc. You can earn up to a 7.30%* interest rate on these accounts. Interest earned on the funds is taxable in India at 30% along with surcharge and cess.


• Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] Fixed Deposit:  An FCNR (B) fixed deposit account allows NRIs to deposit funds in a foreign currency in India, such as USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, AUD, CAD, SGD, HKD, and others. You can deposit money for different terms, like 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, or 60 months. An FCNR account helps NRIs avoid currency fluctuation. IRR vary based on the currency. The interest income is not taxable in India and both the principal amount as well as the interest are completely repatriable.

2. NRI Investment in NPS (National Pension Scheme)
National Pension Scheme or NPS could be one more reliable source of investment for NRIs in India. NPS scheme is fully backed by government and allows NRIs to invest in equity funds, debts, or a combination of both.
Individuals between the age of 18 years and 60 years can invest in NPS with minimal documents like PAN card and Aadhaar card. You need a Non- Resident External (NRE) account or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account when investing in NPS.
You can go for one of the following options under the National Pension Scheme for NRIs.
Active Choice
In active choice, the asset is allocated between:

• ● Equity
• ● Corporate bond
• ● Government Securities

Up to 75% can be contributed to equity.

Active Choice
As the name suggests, assets are allocated automatically and can’t be decided by the investor. Asset allocation depends on the age of the NRI applicant.

Tax Benefits of NPS investment :
An NPS is not exempt from tax. The capital gains are not taxed but all pay-outs are taxed as per your tax slab based on your Indian income is classified.
The Subscriber is free to manage the frequency and amounts of contributions. There are two types of Accounts under NPS:

• ● Tier 1: Money in this account is locked until retirement. If you retire before the age of 60 you may take 20% of the investment as cash (tax- free). The remaining 80% is invested into an annuity (an investment that pays you a fixed yearly amount). If retiring after 60, then a minimum of 40% must be annuitized and the balance can be withdrawn lump sum (tax-free).


• ● Tier 2: Only tier 1 account holders are allowed to open a tier 2 account. Tier 2 accounts allow you to deposit and withdraw money as you wish. There are many types of investments that you can choose from (Equities, Corporate Bonds, Government Bonds etc.) also referred as (E, C & G) to help you to create an effective investment strategy.

Note : You can withdraw the corpus amount if it is lesser than INR 2 lakhs.

3. NRI Investment in Equity
NRI investors who are ready to take some risk in the stock market can consider investing in equity. Non-Resident Indians can directly invest in the stock market in India under the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) of the RBI.
NRIs need to have following accounts for equity investments:

• ● Non-Resident External (NRE) Account
• ● Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Account
• ● NRI Demat Account
• ● NRI Trading Account with a registered broker

Dividend income and the capital gains earned by NRIs from shares and equity-oriented schemes of mutual funds are taxed in India.

4. NRI Investment in Mutual Funds
Mutual funds can be an ideal option for NRIs with limited knowledge and understanding of Indian market. Mutual funds can offer much higher returns than bank FDs. There are several NRI mutual fund schemes in India.
Just like resident Indians, NRIs can also invest in mutual funds in India, but there are only a few AMCs that offer mutual funds for NRIs based in the USA and Canada. NRIs living in USA and Canada are faced with certain tedious compliance requirements under FATCA to invest in mutual funds in India.
As compared to fixed deposits or national pension schemes, mutual funds are a little riskier, but offer more attractive returns. NRIs can select funds according to their risk profile and future goals.

How can NRI invest in Mutual Funds in India?
To invest in mutual funds in India, you need to fulfil FEMA Guidelines for being an NRI. Some key points for NRI investment in mutual funds are as follows:

• ● Investment can be made through Non-Resident External account or Non- Resident Ordinary account.
• ● Investment is possible in Indian National Currency (INR) only and not in a foreign currency.

5. NRI Investment in Real Estate
A long-term investment option with steady growth, real estate is a decent source of investment. NRIs can easily buy property in India and rent it out for extra income. It offers good long-term returns along with steady growth over a period.

What properties can NRIs buy in India?
TNRIs are allowed to purchase both residential and commercial properties in India. Because of high rental yields and outperforming returns. NRIs can invest in commercial properties through fractional ownership with a minimum of Rs. 25 lakh investment. However, they cannot buy any Agricultural Land, Farmhouse or Plantation property. They can only be inherited or received as gifts.
NRIs can use the following bank accounts to buy or sell a property in India:

• ● Non-Resident External Account
• ● Non-Resident Ordinary Account

6. NRI investment in Public Provident Fund
An NRI can continue with his/ her PPF account which they opened as a resident Indian. However, if an NRI doesn’t have a PPF account, she/ he can’t apply for the same with non-resident status. NRIs can’t extend their PPF account after the maturity period of 15 years.

7. Bonds and Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs)
NRIs can invest in bonds and non-convertible debentures (NCDs) in India. NRIs are now eligible to invest in government securities in the form of bonds for NRIs in India without any ceiling limit in certain securities.
The NRI investor doesn’t get any tax exemption, but the interest earned is tax-free U/S 10 (15) (IV) (h). If you sell them after owning them for more than 3 years, the investment is taxed @ 20%. NRIs can also claim tax deductions if they invest in capital gain bonds by REC and NHAI under section 54 EC.

8. Pre-IPO investment
Pre-IPO can be an attractive investment option for NRIs. In pre-IPO markets, people buy and sell shares of a company that is yet to be listed on a public exchange. Private companies sell their shares through an intermediary i.e., an investment firm that can help you successfully close the transaction.
When an NRI buys unlisted shares, the units will be deposited in your NRI Demat account. Pre-IPO shares provide massive opportunity for growth but the investment in such assets is riskier because they are less regulated. Hence, it is crucial to find a trusted intermediary.

9. Portfolio Management Services
In Portfolio Management Services (PMS), fund managers manage the portfolio on behalf of the investor by making investment decisions based on their investment goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. PMS provides investors with personalized investment solutions tailored to their specific needs. You can start investing in PMS with Rs. 50 Lakhs.

10. Managed farmlands
Managed farmlands are the agricultural lands that are owned by individuals or organizations but are managed and cared for by a firm. Depending on the type of management, plantation, and soil quality, they can be highly productive land parcels. The farm asset management agency, like Growpital, usually pools funds from investors to grow and sell farm produce and pays back tax-free fixed returns on a monthly/ quarterly/ half-yearly basis in the form of interest. Investors don’t need to work as farmers.

Following are the benefits of investing in managed farmland.

• ● Tax-free interest income
• ● Higher returns on investment
• ● Lower risk
• ● Portfolio diversification

Because of the rapid industrial development over the past two decades, India is attracting massive foreign direct investment (FDI). A spurt in NRI investment in India has been seen in recent years.

FAQs

Can NRI invest in Indian stock market?
A- Yes. NRIs can invest in Indian Stock Market by buying stocks listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE). To be eligible to invest into stocks, NRIs need to have a PIS Account under the Portfolio Investment Scheme* (PIS) that will allow them to trade stocks. *(Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS): Through this scheme of the Reserve Bank of India, NRIs can purchase and sell shares and debentures of Indian companies on a recognized stock exchange)
Can NRI invest in India with just a PAN Card?Yes, NRIs can use a PAN card and NRE/NRO account to invest in a mutual fund. To invest in shares, NRIs need an NRE account under PIS bank or NRO account, bank account and Demat account.
Can NRI have 2 demat accounts?
A- Yes. An NRI can have multiple demat accounts. The usage of these multiple demat accounts can be understood under the concepts of:

• 1. Repatriation:  NRIs must have separate demat accounts for repatriable (NRE) and non-repatriable (NRO) shares which means if you invest through your NRE account, the money you receive after selling the shares/stocks is completely and freely repatriable whereas investments through NRO accounts will have to be initially settled by paying applicable taxes and then they can be repatriated. NRE accounts are used to buy shares (equity) on a repatriable basis and NRO accounts are used to invest in shares (equity and derivatives) on a non-repatriable basis. The NRE/NRO Accounts can be used to invest in the primary market without PIS (Portfolio Investment Scheme) (eg: IPOs, Mutual Funds)
• 2. Market Variation:  To invest in the secondary market, you need a separate bank account to hold your investment funds that will be linked to the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS). This account cannot be your regular NRE/NRO account, and this account will be linked to a demat account to hold your shares as directed by RBI.

Is PIS mandatory for NRI?
A- No, PIS permission is not required for an NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) account. Previously, the NRI had to open NRE and NRO accounts under PIS regulated by RBI.
Are there any tax-free investments for NRIs in India?
A-Yes, there are a few tax-free options available in India for NRIs like NRE FD Account, FCNR FD Account, ELSS Funds, Managed Farmlands and Life Insurance.

How can NRIs invest in India?
Here are the steps an NRI can follow to invest in India:

• 1. Open an NRE or NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) bank account:  NRIs need to open an NRE or NRO bank account with an Indian bank to invest in India. An NRE account is used for investing foreign earnings that can be repatriated, while an NRO account is used for investments made from earnings in India that cannot be repatriated.
• 2. Obtain a Permanent Account Number (PAN): NRIs need to obtain a PAN card to invest in India. This card is required for opening a bank account, investing in the stock market, and purchasing property in India.
• 3. Complete KYC norms: NRIs need to complete the KYC (Know Your Customer) norms by submitting the necessary documentation such as a copy of their passport, address proof, and PAN card.
• 4. Choose an investment option: NRIs can choose to invest in various options such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, and more. NRIs can also invest in the Indian stock market through the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS).
• 5. Ensure compliance with regulations: NRIs need to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and laws when investing in India. However, it’s recommended that NRIs consult with a professional financial advisor or tax consultant to ensure compliance.

What are the benefits of NRI investment in India?
Given below are the benefits of investing in India for NRIs:

How can NRIs invest in India?
Here are the steps an NRI can follow to invest in India:

• 1. Diversification: Investing in India can provide NRIs with a diversification option outside of their home country. This diversification can help to minimize the overall risk in their investment portfolio.


• 2. High Growth Potential: India has a growing economy with many investment opportunities. With the rise of the middle class and increasing urbanization, there is a lot of potential for growth in various sectors such as real estate, infrastructure, and manufacturing.


• 3. Favourable Demographics: India has a young population, and with increasing disposable incomes, there is a significant demand for various products and services. This demographic advantage provides a huge potential for businesses and investments in the country.


• 4. High Returns: Historically, Indian investments have provided high returns to investors. The Indian stock market has outperformed many other markets over the past few decades, and there are many sectors that have the potential for high returns.


• 5. Tax Benefits: NRIs investing in India can take advantage of various tax benefits. For example, NRE accounts are tax-free, and NRIs can benefit from the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and their home country.


• 6. Repatriation of Funds: NRIs can repatriate the funds invested in India along with the profits earned from the investment, subject to certain conditions.

Are there any Government investment schemes for NRIs in India?

Here are some popular government investment schemes for NRIs in India:

• 1. National Pension Scheme (NPS): NPS is a retirement savings scheme launched by the government of India. NRIs can also participate in this scheme, and contributions made to the scheme are eligible for tax deductions.


• 2. Sovereign Gold Bonds: Sovereign Gold Bonds are issued by the government of India and provide a secure investment option for NRIs. The bond’s value is linked to the price of gold, and the investment can be redeemed after a fixed period.


• 3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): PMJDY is a government scheme aimed at providing financial inclusion to all Indians. NRIs can also open a PMJDY account and avail of various benefits such as accident insurance and overdraft facility.


• 4. Atal Pension Yojana (APY): APY is a government-backed pension scheme aimed at providing a guaranteed pension to citizens. NRIs can also participate in this scheme, and contributions made to the scheme are eligible for tax deductions.


• 5. Bharat Bond ETF: Bharat Bond ETF is a government-backed bond fund that invests in debt securities issued by public sector companies. NRIs can invest in this scheme, which provides a stable and low-risk investment option.


• 6. Startup India: The government of India has launched the Startup India initiative to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the country. NRIs can also invest in Indian startups through this scheme.

We, at Indian Investment Services, are happy to present various investment option, tailor-made to suit your needs- the need of the home coming NRI. Our solution empowers you to cash in on the innumerable investment opportunities back at home. It helps you secure your financial future while building wealth for your children, spouse, your parents, and you. So, Let’s invest in India and be a part of world’s largest economy very soon and make all of us proud..!