Repatriate Money to India from Abroad: NRE, NRO, LRS Guide
Send money to India as an NRI: NRE free repatriation, NRO USD 1M cap, inward remittance, Form 15CA/15CB, and bank rejection fixes.
The 60-second version
Most people ask one question: how do I move money to India without the bank freezing the transfer. The answer depends on which account holds the money and whether you are still NRI or already resident.
The straight answer
If you are still an NRI, money in your NRE account repatriates freely to your foreign bank. That is the cleanest lane.
Money in your NRO account can go out too, but RBI caps it at USD 1 million per financial year under the LRS framework. You need Form 15CA and usually Form 15CB from a chartered accountant.
If you are sending money into India from abroad, that is inward remittance. It lands in NRE or NRO depending on how you label the transfer. Pick the label before you click send.
If you hold FCNR(B) deposits, compare the 2026 RBI FCNR swap window against straight NRO repatriation before you move large balances. The cheaper lane depends on FX, tenure, and your residency date.
Which lane fits your transfer
| You want to… | Account / route | Cap | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send salary savings back while still NRI | NRE → foreign bank | No dollar cap on NRE balance | FEMA declaration at bank |
| Repatriate rent, pension, or sale proceeds | NRO → foreign bank | USD 1M per FY | Form 15CA + 15CB + source proof |
| Send money from US/UK bank to India | Inward remittance → NRE | No cap on funding NRE | SWIFT + purpose code |
| Hold USD after return | FCNR(B) or RFC | Tenure / product rules | Redesignation letter |
| Move inherited Indian balances abroad | NRO inherited funds | USD 1M per FY combined | Succession proof + CA cert |
NRO outward repatriation — the sequence I follow
Confirm source of funds
Rent, pension, property sale, or inherited balance. The bank tags each source differently. Mixed sources need separate proof files.
Check FY headroom under USD 1M
Add every NRO outward transfer in the financial year. Inheritance, gifts, and property sales share the same USD 1M bucket.
File Form 15CA on the income-tax portal
Part A for small sums under prescribed limits; Part B when 15CB is required.
Get Form 15CB from your CA
CA certifies tax compliance and TDS position. Banks reject transfers without this for most NRO remittances.
Submit to AD Category-1 bank
HDFC, ICICI, SBI, or your designated bank. Keep FIRC and SWIFT copy for seven years.
Inward vs outward — do not mix these up
Before you initiate any transfer
- I know my residency status today — NRI, RNOR, or ROR.
- I know which account holds the money — NRE, NRO, or foreign bank.
- I have source documents matched to the amount (sale deed, rent ledger, Form 16A, inheritance papers).
- I checked USD 1M FY headroom if using NRO outward.
- I filed Form 15CA/15CB where required.
- I saved the bank's written confirmation of the FX rate and fees.
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Why banks reject repatriation requests
The top three rejections I see: source proof does not match the amount, 15CB missing or dated wrong, and FY cap already exhausted. Fix the file before you retry — repeated rejections trigger compliance review.
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NRO repatriation cap checker (USD 1M / year)
I use this to sanity-check whether a transfer fits inside RBI's USD 1 million LRS ceiling for the financial year. This is not tax or legal advice. Your bank applies the live FX rate and source-of-funds rules.
This transfer (USD equiv.)
—
FY total (USD)
—
Headroom left (USD)
$1,000,000
Within USD 1M cap at this rate.
Next: Form 15CA/15CB order → CA certificate → AD-1 bank submission.
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Can I repatriate all my NRE money to the US?
Yes, while you are NRI. NRE balances are freely repatriable. After you become resident Indian, redesignate the account first. The free-repatriation benefit applies to NRE status, not indefinitely after redesignation.
Is the USD 1 million limit per account or per person?
Per person per financial year across all NRO sources combined. Multiple NRO accounts at different banks still share one USD 1M ceiling.
Do I need Form 15CB for every small NRO transfer?
Not always. Very small transfers may qualify for Part A of Form 15CA only. Most property-sale and six-figure transfers need 15CB. Your CA decides based on current CBDT rules.
Can I send money from my US brokerage directly to India?
Brokerage proceeds usually go to your US bank first. Then you wire to India as inward remittance or sell and transfer separately. Do not skip US tax reporting on the sale.
What changes the day I become resident Indian?
You must redesignate NRE/NRO accounts. New inward remittances may need different declarations. Outward repatriation from NRO still uses the USD 1M cap. RFC becomes relevant for foreign balances you want to keep in FCY.
How long does NRO repatriation take?
With complete documents, AD banks often clear in 3–10 working days. Missing 15CB or weak source proof can push it to 30+ days.
Your NRE account redesignation has a deadline.
Banks don't remind you. You need the right account stack before salary, rent, and EMIs start moving. Get the exact sequence.