How to Repatriate Rental Income From India to Your Foreign Bank
The NRO-to-foreign-bank process, in order: taxes, Form 15CA/15CB, the bank paperwork, and the USD 1 million annual limit.
Repatriating rental income isn't as simple as an international wire transfer — FEMA rules require specific tax certification before your bank will move the money, and the process differs meaningfully from a routine remittance service.
None of this is difficult once you've done it once. Here's the sequence.
- An NRO account with the accumulated rental income (after TDS)
- PAN card
- Proof of source of funds (rental agreement, TDS certificates)
- A chartered accountant, if your transfer exceeds the threshold requiring Form 15CB
Check your annual repatriation limit
NRIs can repatriate up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO account balances, combining all sources (rent, sale proceeds, deposits). Track how much of that you've already used this year before planning a transfer.
Confirm tax has been paid on the funds
Repatriation is only permitted on income that has already been taxed in India — meaning TDS deducted and, ideally, your ITR filed reconciling the actual liability. Keep this documentation on hand.
Get Form 15CB from a chartered accountant (if required)
Above the threshold set by the tax department, a CA must certify Form 15CB confirming the nature of the remittance, TDS applicability, and DTAA position before you can proceed. Below the threshold, this step may be skipped.
File Form 15CA online
Submit Form 15CA on the income tax e-filing portal — the relevant part (A, B, C, or D) depends on the amount and whether Form 15CB is attached. This generates an acknowledgment number your bank will require.
Submit the request to your bank
Provide your bank with the Form 15CA acknowledgment, Form 15CB (if applicable), PAN, source-of-funds documentation, and the beneficiary's foreign bank details (SWIFT/IBAN).
Bank processes the SWIFT transfer
The bank verifies documentation and executes the wire, typically within a few business days once paperwork is complete — though document review itself can take longer for a first-time or large transfer.
Reconcile in your home-country tax return
Report the repatriated income (and any Indian tax paid) in your home-country filing, claiming DTAA/foreign tax credit where applicable so it isn't taxed twice.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trying to use a retail remittance app (built for inbound transfers) for NRO repatriation — most aren't set up for it
Not tracking cumulative repatriation against the USD 1M/year limit across multiple transfers
Repatriating before TDS/ITR documentation is in order, causing the bank to reject or delay the request
Assuming Form 15CA alone is sufficient when the amount actually requires a CA-certified Form 15CB
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really a USD 1 million per year limit?
Yes — this is the FEMA limit on repatriation from an NRO account per financial year, combining all sources such as rental income and property sale proceeds. Amounts above this require RBI approval, which is uncommon for a rental income use-case.
Do I need Form 15CB for every transfer?
No — it's required above a threshold set by the tax department, and for certain categories of remittance. Smaller, routine transfers of already-taxed rental income may only need Form 15CA. Your bank or CA can confirm which applies.
How long does the whole process take?
Document preparation (CA certification, Form 15CA filing) typically takes a few days to two weeks depending on how organized your records are; the bank wire itself is usually a few business days once submitted.
Can I repatriate through a service like Wise instead of my bank?
Generally no for NRO repatriation — most consumer remittance apps are built for inbound transfers to India, not FEMA-compliant outbound repatriation. Your NRO-holding bank's own repatriation process is the standard route.
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