Moving to India from the USA
A guide for Americans relocating to India: the visa and residency routes, the US tax and Social Security rules that still follow you abroad, cost of living and healthcare. Generate a free plan below, pre-set to a move from the United States.
English proficiency is rated “moderate” (EF EPI).
US taxes & Social Security when you live in India
What stays true for US citizens and green-card holders no matter where they move. General information, not tax or legal advice — confirm your situation with a cross-border tax professional. Reviewed July 2026.
- As a US citizen or green-card holder you keep filing a US federal tax return on your worldwide income even while living in India — the US taxes based on citizenship, not where you live (www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad).
- The US and India have an income tax treaty in force (www.irs.gov/businesses/international-businesses/united-states-income-tax-treaties-a-to-z). A treaty can lower withholding on cross-border income like dividends, interest and pensions and set residency tie-breaker rules — it does not remove your US filing obligation.
- Double taxation is usually avoided with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555, www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-earned-income-exclusion) and/or the Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116); which one is better depends on your income and India's tax rates.
- If your foreign bank and financial accounts exceed US$10,000 combined at any point in the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114, www.fincen.gov/report-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts); larger balances can also trigger FATCA Form 8938 with your return.
- The US has no Social Security Totalization Agreement with India (www.ssa.gov/international/agreements_overview.html), so you may owe social-security or social-insurance contributions in both countries at once — budget for it and confirm the local rules.
Moving to Indiafrom the US: the American's checklist
How US citizens apply, whether your license transfers, and the things that catch Americans out. Reviewed July 2026 against official sources; always confirm current requirements before you act.
Applying for a visa
Visa required. US citizens must secure an e-visa or regular paper visa online prior to travel. Stays over 180 days require registration with the FRRO locally.
Visa-free entry: no standard visa-free entry — see the routes below.
Main long-stay routes: Employment Visa, Business Visa, Entry (X) Visa (for persons of Indian origin / spouses).
Your US driver's license
No exchange — local driving test required
There is no driver's license reciprocity. To drive permanently, US citizens must apply for a new Indian learner's license and pass both theoretical and practical driving tests at a local RTO office.
- India has no Totalization Agreement; self-employed Americans pay full US self-employment tax and face local Indian social taxes under certain corporate structures.
- India has a 'Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident' (RNOR) tax category that exempts foreign-source income from Indian tax for the first 2-3 years after moving to India.
- FATCA is strictly applied; Indian financial institutions are highly automated and require detailed US tax ID confirmations (W-9) to open accounts.
Verify at sarathi.parivahan.gov.in.
India at a glance
Live and regularly refreshed data, each fact with its source.
Internet
~60 Mbps median
Ookla
Messengers
No known issues
OONI, 6 months to July 2026
Foreign-born residents
0.3% of population
World Bank 2024
Population
1463.9M
World Bank 2025
Population density
484 / km²
World Bank 2023
Unemployment
4.2%
World Bank 2025
English proficiency
moderate
EF EPI
Currency
INR
ISO 4217
Getting set up in India: key steps & official resources
The main immigration, tax, healthcare and housing bodies you'll deal with, with the official portals and typical costs. Curated and hand-verified — last reviewed June 2026. Figures are approximate; always confirm the current numbers on the official site.
- Foreigners enter on a specific category — Employment, Business or e-Visa — issued via the Bureau of Immigration and the Indian e-FRRO portal (indianfrro.gov.in); people of Indian origin can instead hold an OCI card.
- Long-stay visa holders must register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival through e-FRRO.
- For tax you need a PAN from the Income Tax Department (www.incometax.gov.in); many services also use Aadhaar (uidai.gov.in). Healthcare is largely private for expats.
- Main housing portals: MagicBricks (www.magicbricks.com), 99acres (www.99acres.com), Housing.com, NoBroker. Emergency number is 112.
- Key figures (approximate — verify current values): Employment Visas generally require a minimum annual salary around US$25,000; FRRO registration is largely free but time-sensitive (14 days); rental deposits vary widely — often 2–3 months in Delhi/Bengaluru but historically much higher in some southern cities.
Moving to India from the US, phase by phase
1Before you go
- Confirm which visa or residency route fits your situation
- Gather and, where needed, apostille/translate key documents
- Sort out international health insurance for the gap period
- Budget the move and notify your bank of the relocation
2First week
- Register your address with the local authority
- Get a local SIM / mobile number
- Start the local bank account application
- Locate the nearest clinic and pharmacy
3First month
- Complete residency registration and get your ID number
- Enroll in the healthcare system or private insurance
- Set up utilities and a long-term rental contract
- Understand your tax residency obligations
4First 90 days
- Exchange or apply for a local driving license if required
- Build a local support network and language basics
- Review and optimize banking, taxes, and insurance
- Handle school enrollment or childcare if you have kids
This is a general outline. Your personalized plan above adapts every step to your US starting point, visa status, and situation. Always verify official requirements: this is not legal or immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still pay US taxes if I move to India?
Yes. The US taxes citizens and green-card holders on worldwide income no matter where they live, so you keep filing a federal return. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit usually reduce or eliminate double taxation, but the filing obligation itself does not go away.
Is there a US tax treaty with India?
Yes. The US and India have an income tax treaty in force, which can reduce withholding on cross-border income and set residency tie-breaker rules. It does not remove your US filing obligation, and you still use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or Foreign Tax Credit to avoid double taxation.
Will I pay into Social Security in both the US and India?
Possibly yes. The US has no Social Security Totalization Agreement with India, so you may owe contributions to both systems at the same time. Confirm the local rules and factor it into your budget.
Do I need a visa to move to India?
It depends on your passport and why you are moving: tourist entry rules are different from working, studying or joining family. Generate a free plan above and we check the visa route for your exact passport and situation, using a 238-country visa matrix.
Can I use WhatsApp and Telegram in India?
Network measurements over the last six months show Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger working normally in India (OONI, 5 January 2026 to 7 July 2026). This reflects measured reachability, not an official policy statement.
How current is this data?
Climate, inflation and life expectancy were refreshed 12 July 2026; prices, taxes and air quality 7 July 2026; messenger reachability 7 July 2026. Tax regimes are hand-verified against official government sources. Every fact on this page shows its source.