An NRI's guide to investing in gold (2024)

Synopsis

NRIs can invest in Gold Exchange Traded Funds or Gold ETFs, listed on Indian Stock Exchanges. It tracks the domestic price of physical gold, where one Gold ETF unit equals one gram of gold. However, NRIs must open a Demat and Trading Account to invest in Gold ETFs.

An NRI's guide to investing in gold (1)

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Gold is an excellent safe-haven asset and a hedge against inflation. Moreover, it is inversely correlated with the stock market helping you diversify your portfolio to cushion it against adverse market movements. Financial experts recommend having 5%-10% of the portfolio in gold holdings. Here’s how NRIs can invest in gold.

How can NRIs invest in gold?
Non-Resident Indians or NRIs can invest in physical gold such as jewellery, bars or coins. However, investing in paper gold such as Gold ETFs or gold funds is a better option as it eliminates purity issues, making charges and storage hassles.

NRIs can invest in Gold Exchange Traded Funds or Gold ETFs, listed on Indian Stock Exchanges. It tracks the domestic price of physical gold, where one Gold ETF unit equals one gram of gold. However, NRIs must open a Demat and Trading Account to invest in Gold ETFs.

NRIs must follow a different process to open a Demat and Trading Account compared to Resident Indians. Moreover, NRIs must get a Portfolio Investment NRI Scheme (PINS) Account to invest in Gold ETFs as per FEMA guidelines. It helps NRIs invest in Gold ETFs on a repatriable and non-repatriable basis.

NRIs who don’t prefer Gold ETFs can invest in Gold Mutual Funds. It is a fund of funds scheme that invests in Gold ETF units run by Asset Management Companies (AMCs). Moreover, NRIs can invest in gold funds directly through AMCs and don’t need to open a Demat and Trading Account.

First-timers in gold may opt for Gold Funds rather than Gold ETFs, suitable for DIY (Do-It-Yourself) investors. However, Gold Funds have a higher expense ratio than Gold ETFs as these are fund of funds schemes. You incur the expense ratio of the gold fund and that of the Gold ETF.

NRIs cannot invest in Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) as per the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. It is government security issued by the RBI and denominated in grams of gold. However, if NRIs invested in SGBs when they were Resident Indians, they can hold these bonds till the maturity period of eight years or opt for premature redemption.

NRIs can invest in E-Gold similarly to Resident Indians. The National Spot Exchange Ltd. or NSEL launched E-Gold in 2010 for people who want to invest in gold with lower denominations than physical gold. NRIs will have to open a Demat and Trading Account with NSEL approved depository participants to invest in E-Gold in India. Moreover, E-Gold units can be traded over the stock exchange similarly to shares, and one E-Gold unit is equal to one gram of gold.

NRIs must check the tax implications of investing in Gold in India. For instance, there is no Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) for NRIs purchasing and selling Gold ETFs through a stock exchange. However, they will have to do a self-assessment when filing their income tax returns. NRIs who opt for direct redemption with mutual fund houses would incur TDS. NRIs must choose the optimum gold investment based on ease of investing and storage.

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)

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An NRI's guide to investing in gold (2024)

FAQs

Can NRI invest in gold? ›

Non-Resident Indians cannot invest in Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB). While, individual investors may keep SGB until early redemption or maturity even after changing their residential status from resident to non-resident.

How much gold NRI can buy in India? ›

A male passenger can bring jewellery worth Rs. 50,000 and in the case of a female passenger, the limit is Rs. 100,000. Gold jewellery carried over and above these limits will attract customs duty.

Can NRI buy gold Jewellery in India? ›

Even for NRIs, it is the safest and profitable investment besides real estate investment. The NRIs can make investments in gold in the form of purchasing jewellery, bars, coins, ETFs-Exchange Traded Funds, NRI gold bonds, etc.

Which form of gold is best for investment? ›

4 popular ways of buying gold as an investment option
  • Digital Gold.
  • Gold ETFs.
  • Gold Mutual Funds.
  • Sovereign Gold Bonds.
Dec 13, 2022

How much gold can NRI bring? ›

Ans. An Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for over one year is allowed to bring jewellery, free of duty in his bonafide baggage upto 20 grams with a value cap of Rs. 50,000/- (in case of a gentleman passenger) or up to 40 grams with a value cap of Rs. 1,00,000/- (in the case of a lady passenger).

Can I Buy gold in USA and take to India? ›

A person can carry bars or coins of gold weighing below 1kg from the USA to India. This is allowed with customs duty taxes charged. The limit is applicable only if you are a resident of India and are carrying a valid passport issued by the Indian government authorities. You can easily carry gold as baggage.

Why is gold so cheap in Dubai? ›

Dubai has always been favoured for its exemption from taxes. It is one of the main reasons why people choose to move to the city, as well as buy gold. Due to the exclusion of taxes in the emirate, prices for gold in Dubai have always been cheaper as buyers would only pay for the value of the gold jewellery.

How can I declare gold before leaving India? ›

Passenger should also submit a copy of the invoice or a legal document establishing the ownership of the items. If no such document is available, an affidavit stating the source of jewellery, ownership and value must be submitted. Name of the passenger, passport no., destination, date, time and Flight No.

How much gold is allowed in flight? ›

Can I take gold Jewellery in hand luggage? ANS:-According to the rules, you are allowed to carry gold jewelry up to an aggregate value of Rs. 50,000 if you are a male member and it is 1,00,000 for the female travelers.

Can I take my gold jewellery from India to USA? ›

There is no duty on gold coins, medals or bullion but these items must be declared to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. Please note a FINCEN 105 form must be completed at the time of entry for monetary instruments over $10,000. This includes currency, ie.

How much gold can I carry to India without customs? ›

However, you won't be paying customs only up to the aggregate weight of 20 Grams, subject to a maximum value of Rs 50,000 in the case of a male passenger. In the case of a female passenger, the weight is up to 40 Grams of gold, subject to a maximum value of Rs 100,000.

How much gold can US citizen bring from India? ›

According to the Indian Customs website, you are allowed to carry up to 10 kilograms of gold while traveling from India to the United States. This is the maximum amount of gold that you are allowed to carry without having to declare it and pay customs duty on it.

Is having gold better than cash? ›

Gold could be far more efficient than cash at storing wealth. Interest rates remain low, meaning that your money in the bank “earns virtually nothing,” reports CNN Money. When you account for inflation, that cash may have actually lost value. Gold is recognized as a having a long-term record of stability.

What size gold is best investment? ›

100g gold bars are our most commonly invested size bars favoured by investors of all types. flexibility and are often purchased in addition to smaller unit coins and bars. bar (Best Value 100g Bars) will represent the best value as they are all worth the same at resale. Karat: 24 karat pure gold.

Will gold ever lose its value? ›

Gold should be an important part of a diversified investment portfolio because its price increases in response to events that cause the value of paper investments, such as stocks and bonds, to decline. Although the price of gold can be volatile in the short term, it always has maintained its value over the long term.

How much gold can a US citizen own? ›

Is there any limit on how much gold I can own ? No, there are no restrictions on private gold ownership in the United States.

Can I carry gold with me international flight? ›

Yes, they're personal items. If you plan to carry something valuable, anything valuable, whatever you do, do not put it in checked luggage. As this is jewellery, and something you can wear, then wearing it while travelling would be the safest way to transport it, and maybe wear clothing that hides it.

Can I carry gold in international flight? ›

Customs officials will not seize your gold without reason. All you need to do is make the correct and detailed declaration to the customs officials. Then carrying gold in or out of the country will be no problem at all.

What is customs duty for gold in India? ›

To tackle the deficit, the government has increased the basic customs duty on gold over years to manage the flow of imports. The total tax paid by a gold buyer in India is currently 18%, which includes basic customs duty, agriculture infrastructure cess, and GST.

Can I buy gold in cash in India? ›

Adding to this, about 35 per cent customers in the business prefer to exchange their old gold for new jewellery.” He added that cash transactions are possible only when the purchase value is below Rs 1.99 lakhs and that transactions above this limit require the customer's PAN card copy.

How can I import gold legally into India? ›

Entities are permitted to import gold solely for export and no other purpose. For each consignment of gold bars imported, the importer must submit the report of their utilization and proof of evidence to the central excise office. Ornaments studded with stones and pearls are restricted.

Which country gold is best quality? ›

Hong Kong, China

It also amongst the most active markets for gold trading across the globe and is a rate setter for many places. Considering this dominant position of Hong Kong, purchasing gold jewelry in high quality from there could a good deal. The goldsmiths there are popular for their creative designs.

Is it better to buy gold in Dubai or India? ›

Indian tourists and NRIs prefer to buy gold and jewellery in Dubai as prices are cheaper by up to 15 per cent in comparison with their home country, which is mainly due to high tax and custom duty.

Why is Dubai gold so yellow? ›

However, the copper content in the alloy determines how yellow the metal appears. The concentration of these other metals in the alloy also plays a role in deciding the gold rate in Dubai.

How much gold can I buy without tax? ›

As mentioned above, to avoid the tax in the state of California, you must make a purchase of more than $1,500.

Can I wear gold chain in airport? ›

Can you wear jewelry through airport security? Yes, for the most part. Gold, platinum, sterling silver, and other fine jewelry rarely causes an alarm. That means you can wear your rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches.

How much gold can I wear in international flight? ›

How much gold is allowed on international flights to India? The duty-free gold allowance for male passengers is 20 grams (maximum Rs 50,000) and for female passengers is 40 grams (maximum Rs 100,000).

How much gold can you keep at home? ›

According to the CBDT's most recent circular, men, regardless of marital status, are only allowed to possess 100 g of real gold in the form of jewelry and ornaments. Married women are allowed to possess 500 g, unmarried women 250 g, and men 500 g.

How many dollars can I carry from India to USA? ›

You can indefinitely retain foreign exchange upto US$ 2,000, in the form of foreign currency notes or travellers' cheques (TCs) for future use. Any foreign exchange in cash in excess of this sum, is required to be surrendered to a bank within 90 days and TCs within 180 days of return.

How much gold I can wear from Dubai to India? ›

Duty Free Limit on Gold Imported to Indian from Dubai

As per the rule, a man travelling from Dubai to India can carry a maximum of 20 gms of gold with him. Meanwhile, a woman who is travelling from Dubai can carry a maximum of 40 gms of gold with her.

Can I carry 3 phones from USA to India? ›

Carrying one sealed box of iPhone might not be an issue but if you are carrying 3-4 devices, you will have to show the receipts of your purchases and might even have to pay a customs duty. So, it's better that you avoid carrying more than two phones on your flight from USA to India.

Can I bring 24k gold to India? ›

You need to declare your gold jewelry at customs and pay the fixed import duty. After that there will be no restrictions to bring gold to India.

How much gold can an Indian citizen buy? ›

Technically, there is no limit up to which one can own gold jewellery or ornaments in India. However, married women In India can keep up to 500 grams of gold jewellery and ornaments, without any proof, according to an income tax notification dated May 11, 1994.

Is investment in gold taxable in India? ›

“You can take indexation benefit on the cost of acquisition of physical gold to derive the value of long-term capital gain. Such gain is chargeable to tax at 20 per cent plus a cess of 4 per cent on the income tax amount. Hence, the total tax will be 20.08 per cent.

Where do NRI invest in India? ›

Best Investment Options for NRIs in India 2022
  • Fixed Deposit.
  • National Pension System.
  • Direct Equity.
  • Real Estate.
  • Mutual Funds.
  • Public Provident Fund.
  • Portfolio Management Services (PMS)
  • Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs)
Jan 22, 2023

How many grams of gold can we carry to India from USA? ›

Each passenger can carry up to 1 kg (kilogram) of gold jewelry upon payment of customs duty, provided the passenger has stayed abroad for atleast a year or more. Also, Indian customs will not allow more than 1 kg of gold jewelry even if the passenger is willing to pay the customs duty for it.

How much gold can I take from India to us? ›

There is no duty on gold coins, medals or bullion but these items must be declared to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. Please note a FINCEN 105 form must be completed at the time of entry for monetary instruments over $10,000. This includes currency, ie. gold coins, valued over $10,000.

How many grams of gold I carry to USA from India? ›

According to the Indian Customs website, you are allowed to carry up to 10 kilograms of gold while traveling from India to the United States. This is the maximum amount of gold that you are allowed to carry without having to declare it and pay customs duty on it.

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