Invest in US Stocks from India

Yes, you can invest in US Stocks from India through INDmoney. You can do this in two ways:

(i) Directly buy US stocks like Apple, Meta, or Google;

(ii) Indirectly invest in US-based Mutual Funds or ETFs  from India. 

Under RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), Indian residents can invest up to $250,000 (around ₹2.12 crore) annually. You can start with as little as $1 (about ₹85).

You can invest in US stocks from India directly through INDmoney in just three simple steps:

Step 1: Sign up on INDmoney and create a Free US Stocks Account. Complete your digital KYC online—quick, paperless, and hassle-free.
Step 2: Add money to your US stocks account using INDmoney’s secure and guided process.
Step 3: Start investing in global giants like Apple, Amazon, and Tesla, or diversify with top US ETFs like the S&P 500. You can begin with as little as $1, with zero commission on trades.

On INDmoney, US stock investments are facilitated through INDmoney Global IFSC (P) Ltd., a registered member of NSE IX and regulated by IFSCA in GIFT City.

For ‘Global access’ accounts, INDmoney partners with regulated US brokers like DriveWealth LLC and Alpaca Securities LLC, overseen by the SEC and FINRA. Your investments are protected by SIPC up to $500,000 (about ₹4.25 crore), including $250,000 (₹2.12 crore) for cash claims.

For ‘Direct access’ accounts, your US stocks are held in a Demat account with INDmoney Global IFSC in GIFT City’s International zone.

You can transfer as little as ₹1,000 and up to ₹2.1 crore (approximately $250,000) per year as per RBI guidelines under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS).

You need to convert rupees to dollars because US stocks can only be purchased in USD. To invest, INR is converted to USD and added to your US stocks wallet. This process is fully digital and paperless.

Your money does not transfer instantly because investing in US stocks involves converting INR to USD and remitting it under RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). This process includes compliance checks by your bank and moves through the SWIFT network, which can take anywhere from 8 to 48 hours depending on your bank.

Your US stocks are stored based on the type of account you hold:

If you have a ‘Direct Access’ account with INDmoney Global IFSC Pvt. Ltd., your stocks are stored in a Demat account with India International Depository IFSC Ltd. in GIFT City, India.

If you have a ‘Global Access’ account with DriveWealth LLC or Alpaca Securities LLC, your stocks are stored with the respective US broker. These brokers are regulated by FINRA and SEC.

You need to provide income documents because, as per RBI regulations, all money transfers to US brokers must go through an authorized bank, which is responsible for conducting mandatory compliance checks. If your relationship with the bank is less than a year, the bank must verify your source of funds before processing the transfer. This is done by collecting either a one-year bank statement or your income tax return (ITR) acknowledgment. These checks ensure the transfer meets all legal and regulatory requirements.

Withdrawals aren’t instant because your funds are held overseas in USD. When you place a withdrawal request, the broker initiates a transfer through the SWIFT international banking network to send your money to India. 

Once it reaches your Indian bank, the bank carries out mandatory regulatory checks before converting the dollars into rupees and crediting your account. While INDmoney has made this a simple one-click process for users, these backend steps can take 2–5 working days to complete.

Withdrawal charges are $0 irrespective of the bank that you bring your funds back into.

No, Indian residents are not allowed to do intraday trading or derivative trading in US stocks due to regulatory restrictions.

US stock market indices, some of the world’s most renowned indices, track groups of companies to give investors a snapshot of market performance. Here are the most well-known ones:

1. S&P 500 – Tracks 500 of the largest publicly traded US companies, including Apple, Nvidia, Tesla, and more. It covers about 80% of the US market’s total value and is the most widely followed benchmark for overall market performance.
2. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) – One of the oldest indices, it includes 30 major blue-chip companies like Coca-Cola, Visa, and JP Morgan. It uses a price-weighted method, so higher-priced stocks have more influence on the index.
3. Nasdaq Composite – Represents over 3,500 companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. While it includes various sectors, it’s heavily tilted toward tech firms such as Google (Alphabet), Amazon, and Microsoft, making it a key indicator of the tech sector.
4. Russell 2000 – Tracks 2,000 small-cap US companies. It’s widely used as a benchmark for small-cap mutual funds and reflects how smaller, often domestically focused businesses are performing.
5. Nasdaq-100 – A subset of the Nasdaq Composite, this index includes the 100 largest non-financial companies on Nasdaq. It is packed with high-growth tech leaders like Meta, Microsoft, Adobe, making it popular among growth-focused investors.

Investing in US stocks from India can be rewarding if approached wisely. Here are some key tips to help you make the most of your investment journey:

1. Do Your Research – Understand key US indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones. Study company profiles, earnings, market outlooks, and stay updated with US economic news. INDmoney’s US Stocks Screener helps you track stocks, set alerts, and group companies by sector, risk, or dividends.
2. Diversify Your Portfolio – Don’t invest all your money in a single stock or sector. Spread your investments across industries like technology, pharma, financial services, and more. You can also invest in ETFs or mutual funds for easy diversification.
3. Invest for the Long Term – Focus on long-term growth instead of chasing short-term gains. Consider dollar-cost averaging—investing a fixed amount regularly—to reduce the impact of market volatility over time.
4. Understand Tax Implications – US dividends are taxed at 25% for Indian residents, though this can be reduced under the India–US tax Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) treaty. Capital gains may also be taxed. It's wise to consult a tax advisor to optimize your post-tax returns.
5. Choose a Trusted Platform – Select a secure, low-cost platform with strong support and features. INDmoney offers easy access to US stocks, portfolio tracking, real-time insights, and a seamless investing experience for Indian investors.
6. Avoid Emotional Decisions – Don’t react impulsively to market news or short-term dips. Stick to your financial plan, review your portfolio periodically, and make changes based on your goals, not market noise.

With patience, research, and the right strategy, investing in the US market from India can be a valuable part of your wealth-building journey.

An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is a type of investment that holds a basket of assets like stocks, bonds, or commodities—and is traded on a stock exchange like a regular stock. For example, a Tech ETF might include companies like Apple, Nvidia, Google, and Meta, allowing you to invest in multiple tech stocks with a single purchase. This makes ETFs a simple way to diversify your portfolio. ETFs are popular for their low fees, ease of trading, and built-in diversification, making them suitable for all types of investors.

The US stock market (NYSE and NASDAQ) operates from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), but the US Market Timings in India vary due to Daylight Saving Time in the US:

• March to November (EDT): 7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. IST
• November to March (EST): 8:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. IST

Daylight Saving Time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November each year.

Check the complete US Market Timings guide here.

To directly invest in the US Stock from India you need an overseas trading account from a domestic broker. You can do this through INDmoney, which is a registered member of NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) and is regulated by IFSCA in Gift City, India.

To get started you need to create a US Stocks Account with INDmoney. This account allows you to access and invest in the US stock market from India.The first step is to exchange your rupees for dollars by funding your US Stocks Wallet.
For Axis, HDFC, or ICICI Bank users:
Verify your bank account, and complete the transfer. The decided amount will be debited from your existing bank account
For Federal Bank users:
Use UPI to add money to your INDmoney Federal account, and complete the transfer
For other bank users:
INDmoney will guide you through a quick Federal Bank Account creation journey, after which you can transfer money easily. Learn more about how you can transfer money to your US Stock account here.

Once the funds are added to your US Stocks Wallet, you’re ready to invest in any US company you like! Explore Stocks, Mutual Funds & ETFs and start investing for as little as $1.