Why NRIs planning retirement in India need a whole new financial playbook

For many non-resident Indians or NRIs, coming back to the home country after retiring holds emotional value but calls for a completely different financial strategy from what they may have become familiar with abroad. The dynamics of inflation, taxation, investment options and repatriation rules in India require a customised approach, not a mere transposition of overseas strategies.

Inflation in India remains among the highest globally, often running at 6–7 percent annually. That simple-sounding figure can silently erode your savings. A retirement corpus built abroad may seem ample today but could translate into significantly less purchasing power in India’s inflationary environment. Indeed, experts warn that a corpus of Rs 1 crore today may feel like only Rs 20 lakh in real terms by 2045. Without correcting for inflation and adjusting expectations, long‑term financial plans may crumble.

Tax changes introduced in 2024–25 have also added layers of complexity. Indian expats in the US now face tighter reporting rules, enhanced tax collection on foreign remittances and stricter disclosure of overseas assets according to FBAR (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) and FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) guidelines. The Budget 2025 increased the tax collected at source on remittances. These developments increase compliance burdens and squeeze margins of commonly used investment instruments.

Mutual funds remain a core building block of NRI retirement plans in India, yet the tax regime has also shifted. From April 1, 2025, a unified capital gains tax rule applies across many fund categories. Short‑term and long‑term capital gains, as well as dividends, now attract distinct TDS or tax deducted at source rates. Without careful planning, NRI investors could face surprise tax bills upon redemption.

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GIFT City investment strategies—where money is put into assets overseas via the financial hub in Gandhinagar—may prove tax-efficient for overseas investors to protect against currency differentials, provide favourable investment opportunities and beneficial cross-border tax treatment.

These tax changes also affect how NRIs must think about the size of their retirement corpus. Calculation frameworks that factor in inflation, a safe withdrawal rate of 3.5–4 percent and contingency buffers for healthcare, relocation and one‑time expenses can boost the required corpus by 20–30 percent beyond nominal projections.

Choosing where to retire matters too. NRIs committed to India should invest a significant portion of their investments in India keeping global diversification to 20-40 percent of their overall net worth.

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Retirement planning can be carefully crafted using a combination of tax-free and low-tax investment options that are also inflation-adjusted, like the National Pension System (NPS), NRE/FCNR fixed deposits,  annuity plans and mutual funds. The NPS is especially useful: it allows remote access and offers favourable tax treatment, though it mandates annuitisation of at least 40 percent at retirement.

If retirement is planned abroad—or remains undecided—the investment framework and recommendations would change to include global mutual funds, diversified equities and retirement vehicles like 401(k)s as in the case of the US.

Risks around currency fluctuations cannot be ignored. When the rupee weakens, your overseas savings lose value in India; when it strengthens unexpectedly, repatriation may look more attractive. Advisers often recommend holding a portion of your corpus in dollar- (or other stable currency)‑denominated assets to hedge these swings.

Real estate occasionally looms large in NRI plans, tied to emotional or family ties. But purchases undertaken many years before retirement can suffer age‑related wear or locational misalignment. Buying property closer to retirement age might be more efficient than investing early and facing upkeep costs, location mishaps, flexibility and liquidity issues or obsolescence later.

Healthcare and estate planning deserve equal weight. Comprehensive health insurance valid across countries, long‑term critical-care coverage and a globally valid power of attorney or succession plan will safeguard against unforeseen costs and legal complexities before and after retirement.

Investors who have succeeded in retiring early attribute it to disciplined planning with a trusted advisor. Setting realistic goals, defining what 'enough' means at each life stage and aligning investments across time horizons helped them transition confidently at 55—underscoring the benefit of specialist guidance even for experienced investors. While a plan is crafted by an investment advisor, the constant monitoring and tweaking every year and over different market cycles, interest environment, cross-border tax requirements, family, emotional and life stages is required.

In conclusion, NRIs eyeing retirement in India must reset their financial blueprint. They need to recalibrate assumptions around lifestyle costs, inflation, currency risk, taxation, and legal, emotional and compliance issues.

A hybrid strategy tailored to personal residency status, geography and flexibility offers the strongest foundation for long‑term security. Thoughtful selection of instruments, disciplined corpus calculation and early professional advice are indispensable—and markedly different—from retirement strategies designed for life in other geographies.

The author is founder, managing director, and SEBI-registered chief financial planner at Dilzer Consultants Pvt Ltd.

Disclaimer: The views expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with a financial advisor before taking any decisions.