A non-resident Indian (NRI) who is an Indian citizen can invest in the National Pension System (NPS), which is a market-linked retirement account regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). NRIs can open only a Tier I account, which has restricted withdrawals, and cannot open the optional Tier II account.
Whether NPS makes sense for an NRI depends on three points: the eligibility conditions and the bank account used, whether the tax deductions help given the NRI’s income in India, and what happens at withdrawal, including whether the money can be sent abroad. The rules have been revised in recent years, so the current terms are worth confirming with the point of presence or the PFRDA before applying.
Who can open an NPS account as an NRI
| Condition | Rule |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Indian citizens living abroad are eligible. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are generally treated as eligible, and persons of Indian origin without an OCI card are not. |
| Age | Most guidance cites 18 to 70 years at joining, and the PFRDA’s all-citizen model lists a higher limit, so the current limit is worth confirming. |
| Account type | Tier I only. Tier II is not available to NRIs. |
| Bank account | A Non-Resident External (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account in India is needed, and contributions can also come through a Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) account or inward remittance. |
| Documents | A Permanent Account Number (PAN), completed know your customer (KYC) checks and identity and address proof such as a passport. |
| Minimum contribution | ₹500 to open the account and ₹1,000 a year to keep the Tier I account active. |
How the investment choices work
An NRI can choose Active Choice, which allows a chosen split across equity, corporate bonds and government securities with equity capped at 75%, or Auto Choice, where the allocation shifts toward lower-risk assets as age rises. Returns are market-linked and not guaranteed, and the equity part can fall in the short term.
Tax benefits for NRIs
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Deduction on own contributions | Up to 20% of gross total income for self-employed contributors, and up to 10% of salary for salaried contributors, within the ₹1.5 lakh overall cap. |
| Additional deduction | An extra ₹50,000 for voluntary contributions. |
| Which regime | The deductions apply only under the old tax regime. |
| Who benefits | Only an NRI with taxable income in India gains from the deductions, since an NRI with no Indian taxable income has nothing to reduce. |
An NRI pays tax in India only on income earned in India, so the benefit can be small unless there is salary, rent, business income or other taxable income here. The country of residence may also tax the NPS withdrawal or the pension, and a tax treaty may reduce double taxation.
Withdrawal and repatriation
| Point | What to know |
|---|---|
| Exit age | The account matures at retirement age, with an option to defer, as for resident subscribers. |
| Lump sum and annuity | Part of the corpus can be taken as a lump sum and the rest must buy an annuity. The split is set by the PFRDA and has been revised recently, so the current split is worth confirming before relying on it. |
| Partial withdrawals | Limited withdrawals for specified purposes are allowed after a set number of years, under PFRDA rules. |
| Where the money is credited | Into the NRE or NRO account linked to the NPS account. |
| Sending money abroad | Funds contributed from an NRE account are generally repatriable under the foreign exchange rules. Funds from an NRO account follow the general limit of USD 1 million per financial year, and annuity income is subject to the insurer’s and the exchange control rules. |
| Tax on the withdrawal | It depends on the rules in force in the year of withdrawal, and annuity income is taxed as income. |
Ways to open an account
| Route | How it works |
|---|---|
| Online through eNPS | Registration with PAN and KYC details, and an initial contribution made through the NRE or NRO account. |
| Through a point of presence (POP) | A bank or other authorized entity registers the NRI, and some offer help to NRIs abroad. |
What NRIs should take from this
NPS gives NRIs a low-cost, market-linked retirement account in India, with the main benefit going to those who have taxable income here and plan to return or retire in India. The lock-in until retirement, the compulsory annuity and the repatriation conditions make it a long-term holding, and it is best viewed next to other options such as mutual funds and the Public Provident Fund, which has its own rules for NRIs.
Kuvera offers direct mutual funds, which are an alternative long-term option for NRIs who prefer more liquidity than NPS allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can an NRI open an NPS account?
Yes. An Indian citizen living abroad can open a Tier I account with PAN, KYC and an NRE or NRO account.
2. Can an NRI open a Tier II NPS account?
No. NRIs can open only a Tier I account.
3. Can an OCI cardholder invest in NPS?
OCI cardholders are generally treated as eligible, and persons of Indian origin without an OCI card are not.
4. Does an NRI get a tax benefit on NPS?
Under the old tax regime, contributions qualify for deductions, which help only an NRI who has taxable income in India.
5. Can NPS money be sent abroad?
Funds contributed from an NRE account are generally repatriable under the foreign exchange rules, and funds from an NRO account follow the USD 1 million yearly limit. The conditions for annuity income differ, so they are worth confirming before withdrawal.
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully. Rules mentioned here reflect current rules and can change.
