How to invest in US stock market from India: All that you need to know about process, rules (2024)

If you are wondering as to how to invest in the US stock market from India, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that the process is extremely simple and easy to complete.

If you are looking to diversify your investment portfolio across geographies, the US stock market can be a good starting point. And, if you are wondering as to how to invest in the US stock market from India, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that the process is extremely simple and easy to complete. You can invest in US stocks from India or trade in any US stock such as Apple, Google or Tesla, all from the comfort of your home or office.

Owning shares of Amazon, Google or Apple is easier and almost similar to that of buying shares of Indian companies on stock exchanges in India. What gives it a different shade, however, is that the buying process involves an international brokerage house and as an investor one needs to adhere to the RBIs foreign exchange rules. But, to make sure that the investor focus remains on buying US stocks with a click of a mouse, the entire documentation part is handled by the international brokerage firm.

Indian brokers like HDFC Securities, Motilal Oswal, Geojit and fintech platforms like Stockal provide holistic US investing facilities.

What international brokerage platforms ensure is to keep the international investing easy, simple and secure with all paper-work and authorizations from banks being covered under one roof. From getting the RBI clearances to finding the right bank account in the US and opening an account, these international brokerage companies make it a one-stop-shop for you. Once the US stocks account is opened, with a few clicks be ready to trade in international stocks. The process of investing in the US stock market is seamless with all the paper-work with US-based entities is done by the brokerage firms.

A typical global investing platform which could be the best brokerage account for international trading will involve 5 key steps before you can invest in the US stocks from India. Here they are:

1. Account Opening

Once you have identified the best brokerage account in India for buying the US stocks, the online registration of the account is the first step. Its an easy, simple and a quick process. One just needs to enter details such as name, email and mobile number to start. Once the account is created, your brokerage account also gets created automatically.

2. Documentation

During the process of opening the account, you will need to furnish certain documents to establish your identity and to provide the address proof. The documentation is bare minimum and that includes a combination of ID proof (with picture) and address proof. For the ID proof, one can furnish (any one) voter ID, PAN card, Valid driver’s license, Passport or Voters registration card and photo. The utility bill or the mobile phone bill or even the bank or credit card statement may be provided as address proof. Alternatively, Valid driver license with address or Government issued Photo ID with address such as Aadhaar card or Passport will suffice.

3. Adding Funds

After your account is approved, you are allowed to add funds to your brokerage account.

4. Forex formalities

Before starting to add funds and invest abroad, you need to be careful with the RBI rules on forex which is what Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) is all about. As an Indian resident, you need to buy dollars ( or any other currency) using Indian rupees (INR) from an authorised dealer (the bank) in India. The dollars can then be spent abroad or remitted abroad for acquiring property or other assets such as equity shares.

Currently, under the LRS rules, any resident individual including a minor ( countersigned by a guardian) is allowed to remit up to 2.5 lakh US dollars (USD 2,50,000 ) in each financial year. At an exchange rate of Rs 73 to a dollar, it is about Rs 1,82,50,000 or Rs 1.82 crore.

So, a bit of paper-work for you. You will require to complete the formalities related to LRS form before starting to trade.

5. Forex Rates

While transferring rupee funds from your Indian bank account to your brokerage account in the US, the foreign exchange rate matters. To help you get a favorable exchange rate, some of the international brokerage platforms where you open the account have tie-ups with leading nationalized banks to get good low forex rates for you. Alternatively, you can contact your banker for transferring funds.

Conclusion

So, now you have the brokerage account in place and funds transferred into it. Whether you want to buy the NASDAQ stocks from India or start trading in international stocks, you are good to go. From the US-listed ADRs to Chinese giants like Alibaba to many Indian and European companies are all available from the comfort of your home. And, what’s more, you can invest in the US stocks with as low as Rs 100!

How to invest in US stock market from India: All that you need to know about process, rules (2024)

FAQs

How to invest in US stock market from India: All that you need to know about process, rules? ›

How Much Can I Invest in US stocks? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released guidelines under the Liberalized Revenue Scheme (LRS) that permitted an Indian Resident to invest up to 250000 dollars (around 1.9 crore rupees) per year without any special permissions.

What are the rules for investing in US stocks from India? ›

How Much Can I Invest in US stocks? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released guidelines under the Liberalized Revenue Scheme (LRS) that permitted an Indian Resident to invest up to 250000 dollars (around 1.9 crore rupees) per year without any special permissions.

Can I invest directly in US stock market from India? ›

Yes. You can invest in NASDAQ from India via direct or indirect investment routes. As per the direct routes, you can open an overseas trading account with a domestic or international brokerage firm. Alternatively, you can also start investing via the indirect route through mutual funds and ETFs.

What do I need to know before buying US stocks? ›

Here are 5 important things that you should be aware of before you go ahead with your investments.
  • The concept of fractional ownership of shares. ...
  • The impact of foreign exchange. ...
  • The maximum amount of investment in a year. ...
  • The impact of taxation. ...
  • The charges associated with a US stock broking account.

What is the maximum limit to invest in US stocks from India? ›

Under the LRS, Indian residents can remit up to $250,000/per financial year to invest in US stocks directly. For the mutual fund route, this limit is an industry-wide aggregated cap of $7 Billion.

Do I have to pay tax on US stocks in India? ›

Do you have to pay tax on foreign stocks India? As of 2023, an individual investing in foreign stocks will be charged with 20% TCS (Tax Collected at Source) which can be claimed when filing for Income tax returns.

What are the disadvantages of investing in US stocks from India? ›

5 Risks Of Investing In US Stocks
  • Currency Exchange Risks. The rupee amount that you invest is converted into dollars before a stock option is purchased in the US markets. ...
  • Country Related Risks. ...
  • Interest Rate Risks. ...
  • Liquidity Risks. ...
  • Regulatory Risks.
Oct 23, 2020

Is it risky to invest in US stocks from India? ›

Yes, Indians can invest in the US stock market. There is more than one way to buy and hold US stocks in your portfolio. Direct equities, ETFs, and mutual funds are just one of the few popular options. You can invest in US stocks in two ways from India – indirect and direct.

Can I invest in S&P 500 from India? ›

Yes – investors from India can invest in the US stock market. If they are interested in diversifying beyond Indian stocks and financial instruments, beyond the Sensex or the Nifty 50, Indian investors can do so by investing in the S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq or other US listed companies.

Which app is best for invest in US stocks from India? ›

INDmoney makes it easy for anyone wanting to start investing in US stocks from India. Our zero-cost structure allows you to start trading without any account opening fees or commission on buying and selling. It takes less than 3 minutes to open a US stocks account with INDmoney.

What are the 7 steps to buying stocks? ›

  • Select an online stockbroker.
  • Research the stocks you want to buy.
  • Decide how many shares to buy.
  • Choose your stock order type.
  • Optimize your stock portfolio.
  • The bottom line on how to buy stocks.
Mar 17, 2023

Is it better to invest in India or USA? ›

Volatility. When compared to Indian markets, the US markets have been less volatile in the long run. Indian equities have shown great volatility, with bigger swings in returns over the years. This is another reason experts recommend diversification when it comes to investing, since risks are spread out and diminished.

What is the cheapest platform to buy US stocks? ›

Robinhood, SoFi, and Webull are the lowest commission brokerage accounts across stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies -- they don't charge commissions.

Can I buy US stocks from Zerodha? ›

No, presently investing in stocks listed in foreign stock exchanges is not possible through Zerodha.

How can I buy Tesla shares in India? ›

How can I purchase Tesla, Inc. shares in India?
  1. Directly: By opening an international trading account with Angel One. The process would include KYC verification. ...
  2. Indirectly: By investing in mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) that offers exposure in global stocks.

How to invest in US stocks from India ICICI Direct? ›

How to get started?
  1. Login to your ICICI Direct account. You need to be existing ICICI Direct Customer to get access to ICICI Direct Global.
  2. Subscribe to a plan of your choice. Choose the plan which works best for you.
  3. Upload your Scanned Documents. ...
  4. Get access to ICICI Direct Global Investment Platform.

What amount of stock is tax free in India? ›

Tax responsibility = In a year, LTCG of Rs 1 lakh is tax-free.

Do NRI pay tax in India stocks? ›

Exemption on sale of property for an NRI

Long-term capital gains are taxed at 20%. Do note that long-term capital gains earned by NRIs are subject to a TDS of 20%. NRIs can claim exemptions under Section 54, Section 54EC, and Section 54F on long-term capital gains.

How can I avoid tax on stocks in India? ›

Exemptions for Long-Term Capital Gains

First, under section 112A, any capital gains under the value of ₹1lakh is not taxable. So one of the best ways to avoid paying capital gains tax when you sell your stock is to make sure that you keep your capital gains within the exemption bracket.

Which is better US stocks or Indian stocks? ›

In summary, US Markets have given slightly better returns as compared to the Indian Markets, and that too with less risk/volatility. However, whether you choose the Indian markets or the US markets for your investment objectives, be wary of the pros and cons of both to ensure the risk-return tradeoff is balanced.

Which country is most attractive for investment? ›

  • United States. #1 in Invest In Rankings. ...
  • Japan. #2 in Invest In Rankings. ...
  • South Korea. #3 in Invest In Rankings. ...
  • Singapore. #4 in Invest In Rankings. ...
  • China. #5 in Invest In Rankings. ...
  • Germany. #6 in Invest In Rankings. ...
  • United Arab Emirates. #7 in Invest In Rankings. ...
  • Switzerland. #8 in Invest In Rankings.

What is the benefit of investing in US stocks from India? ›

Investing in the US markets helps you diversify your portfolio as the market offers extensive avenues to invest in top sectors of Technology, Finance, Automobile and Gold. Investing a part of your assets in such markets also makes you independent of the Indian stock markets and the Indian economy.

What is the best US stocks to buy? ›

Best US Stocks
Stock NameTickerMarket Cap
Apple, Inc.AAPL2.224 T
Microsoft CorporationMSFT1.705 T
Amazon.com Inc.AMZN1.089 T
Tesla, Inc.TSLA642.330 B
16 more rows

Is investing in foreign stocks a good idea from India? ›

Merits and Demerits of Overseas Investment

Reduce country and currency risk due to investment in different countries and different currencies which results in diversification of the portfolio. We have seen the weakening of several currencies including the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar through 2022.

Can I use Vanguard from India? ›

How to Buy S&P 500 Vanguard ETF Shares in India? One can easily invest in S&P 500 Vanguard ETF shares from India by: Direct Investment - Opening an international trading account with Groww which includes KYC verification in the US.

How to invest in Vanguard from India? ›

Direct investment: One can invest through opening an International Trading Account with Angel One. Once account is opened, you can add funds in U.S. dollars to buy S&P 500 Vanguard ETF (VOO).

What is India version of S&P 500? ›

The S&P BSE 500 is designed to be a broad representation of the Indian market. Consisting of the top 500 constituents in the S&P BSE AllCap, the index covers all major industries in the Indian economy.

Can I invest in US stocks from India using Robinhood? ›

You can invest in over 5,000 securities with Robinhood Financial, including most U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on U.S. exchanges. We're also excited to offer options trading and access to over 650 global stocks through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

Can I buy US stocks from Groww? ›

Yes, you can buy international (US) stocks on Groww. Log in to your Groww account. Below explore button, click on the US stocks button and start investing as per your choice of stocks.

Is Zerodha safe for long term investment? ›

Zerodha is in the retail stock broking business for 10+ years (since 2010). They are audited by exchanges and SEBI regularly. As of Jan 2023, none of the regulatory agencies have reported any major violations of regulations by Zerodha.

How do beginners buy stocks? ›

One of the easiest ways is to open an online brokerage account and buy stocks or stock funds. If you're not comfortable with that, you can work with a professional to manage your portfolio, often for a reasonable fee. Either way, you can invest in stocks online and begin with little money.

What is the 3 5 7 rule in stocks? ›

The strategy is very simple: count how many days, hours, or bars a run-up or a sell-off has transpired. Then on the third, fifth, or seventh bar, look for a bounce in the opposite direction. Too easy? Perhaps, but it's uncanny how often it happens.

What are the 4 basic stocks? ›

There are four basic kinds of stock/fond: white stock (Fond Blanc), brown stock (Fond Brun), vegetable or neutral stock (Fond Maigre) and Fish Stock (Fume de Poisson). The classifications refer to the contents and method used to prepare the stock, not necessarily to color.

Which is more richer India or USA? ›

The US is still the world's largest economy, according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Its gross domestic product (GDP), in current prices, is forecast at $21.4 trillion for 2019.

Which is cheaper India or USA? ›

United States is 240% more expensive than India. Apr 2023 Cost of Living.

How much of your salary should you invest in India? ›

Ensure you are investing 20% of your income for your future ahead. 1. Long Term Insurance: One should get a Term Insurance Plan cover for a minimum of Rs 1 crore or even more.

Which trading is best for beginners? ›

Best Online Brokers and Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2022
  • Best Broker for Beginners: TD Ameritrade.
  • Best Broker for Investor Education: TD Ameritrade.
  • Best Broker for Ease of Trading Experience: E*TRADE.
  • Best Broker for Customer Service: TD Ameritrade.

Can I buy US stocks without a broker? ›

Do you need a broker? The short answer is no—you don't need a living, advice-giving, fee-charging broker (although you shouldn't rule them out). You do, however, need a brokerage—the online storefront where you purchase stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other investments.

What is the minimum lot to buy US shares? ›

Minimum trading unit for U.S. stocks

Unlike A shares and HK stocks where the minimum trading unit is 1 lot, in the U.S. the minimum trading unit is 1 share.

Can I invest in US stocks through Zerodha? ›

No, presently investing in stocks listed in foreign stock exchanges is not possible through Zerodha.

How to invest in Nasdaq 100 from India? ›

They are as follows:
  1. EFTs and Mutual Funds Listed in India - You can start by investing in EFTs and mutual funds listed in India if you're interested in the large NASDAQ market. ...
  2. Direct Investment in the US Stocks - With the help of a broker, you can open a trading account and directly invest in the US EFTs and stocks.

Can I open brokerage account in India from USA? ›

Yes, US-based NRIs are allowed to open demat account in India. An NRI Demat account can be opened by a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) living in any country abroad.

Which US stocks to buy now? ›

Best US Stocks
Stock NameTickerMarket Cap
Microsoft CorporationMSFT1.705 T
Amazon.com Inc.AMZN1.089 T
Tesla, Inc.TSLA642.330 B
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ432.395 B
16 more rows

Can I keep my Zerodha account if I moved to USA? ›

A resident Zerodha account can be used even after going abroad if the duration is less than 6 months.

Which app is best to invest in US stocks from India? ›

INDmoney makes it easy for anyone wanting to start investing in US stocks from India. Our zero-cost structure allows you to start trading without any account opening fees or commission on buying and selling. It takes less than 3 minutes to open a US stocks account with INDmoney.

How can I trade in US market from India? ›

Opening an overseas trading account with a Domestic Broker

Domestic brokers have agreements with US brokers that enable you to invest in US stocks directly. You can open a foreign trading account with any of these brokers. To open this account, you may be required to submit a set of documents.

How to invest in the S and P 500? ›

Investing in the S&P 500

You can't directly invest in the index itself, but you can buy individual stocks of S&P 500 companies, or buy an S&P 500 index fund or ETF. The latter is ideal for beginner investors since they provide broad market exposure and diversification at a low cost.

Which is the best Nasdaq 100 fund in India? ›

  • Kotak Nasdaq 100 FOF - Direct Plan. ...
  • Kotak Nasdaq 100 FOF - Regular Plan. ...
  • Motilal Oswal NASDAQ 100 ETF. ...
  • Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FOF - Direct Plan. ...
  • Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FOF - Regular Plan. Unrated. ...
  • Motilal Oswal Nasdaq Q50 ETF. Unrated. ...
  • Navi NASDAQ 100 FoF - Direct Plan. Unrated. ...
  • Navi NASDAQ 100 FoF - Regular Plan. Unrated.

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