Do I have to close my foreign bank accounts?

Not always. Many returnees keep at least one foreign account active for residual payments, refunds and credit history.

Will my kids adjust to Indian schools?

Yes, with planning. IB or Cambridge are the smoothest from international curricula. CBSE / ICSE work too with a buffer term.

What is RNOR and why does it matter?

Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident is a transitional Indian tax status that can shield foreign income for the first few years after return. The exact window depends on your stay history.

Where can I find someone who has done this?

Find returnees on BackToIndia who moved from your country or city, and ask them directly.

🌍Global returnees - Back to India

Moving back to India?

Q: How early should I start planning?

6 to 12 months is the typical window. School transitions and pension paperwork often need the most lead time.

A practical, country-aware plan to get the tax, money, schools, shipping and first weeks after landing right.

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Real returnees from many countriesOpen checklist you can saveTools you can actually use

The worries we hear most

Whatever is keeping you up at night, someone here already solved it

Will my money survive the move?

Returnees from anywhere have done the 401k / EOSB / pension paperwork already. Copy their playbook.

What about my kids' school year?

Real families share what worked for IB, Cambridge, CBSE and ICSE transitions, by city and age.

How do I ship my life back?

Container costs, customs concessions and what to sell vs ship, from people who just did it.

Who will help me when I land?

Meet returnees who moved from anywhere to your target city, and ask them directly.

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A clear runway

The Other-to-India timeline, step by step

You do not need to do everything at once. Here is when each piece actually matters.

T-12 months
T-12 months
Decide
Lock target return month and Indian city.
T-6 months
T-6 months
Set up
Open NRE / NRO. Sort tax and pension treatment.
T-3 months
T-3 months
Move
Shipping, school TC, exit paperwork.
Landing week
Landing week
Land
Aadhaar, PAN, health cover, housing.

The boring stuff that bites later

What you actually need to know

Pick your city first

Schools, jobs, housing and family proximity all key off your target Indian city. Decide this early so every other decision falls into place.

Money and logistics for Other returnees, at a glance

Ballpark numbers from real returnees. Yours will vary.

Open NRE / NRO: Before any FX transfer
Cleanest inflow path
Health insurance: Cover from day one
Pre-existing waits apply
Tax exit: Country specific
Confirm before moving

Questions with Other-side context

Asked or answered by people who made the same move from another country.

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Be the pioneer from your country

You don't have to figure this out alone

Connect with returnees who moved from your country
An open checklist you can save and revisit
Tools for tax, schools, money and city fit

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Country planning dashboard

Return to Indiafrom Other

A practical return plan covering tax, money, schools, banking, shipping, healthcare and first steps after landing. Save your progress as you go.

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Planning snapshot

The shape of a return move from where you are now.

Recommended window

6 to 12 months

Common concerns

Local tax exit
Pension / retirement accounts
School transition
Healthcare cover
Bank accounts

Important documents

Passport, OCI
Salary / tax records (3 years)
School TC
Medical records
Pension statements

Financial / tax to review

Plan local tax exit
Confirm pension treatment
Open NRE / NRO
Spread FX transfers

School / kids

Confirm grade equivalency
Shortlist IB / Cambridge / CBSE / ICSE
Apostille transcripts

Suggested first step

Lock your target return month and Indian city.

Country-specific planning

The topics that move the needle for returnees from here.

Tax exit from your current country

Most countries have specific rules for ceasing residency: a final return, possible departure tax on capital gains, and ongoing reporting if you retain assets. Get country-specific advice before fixing your move date.

What you should do

Confirm residency-end rules in writing
Plan asset sales pre-departure where useful
File the final return on time

Talk to an expert (coming soon)

Pension and retirement accounts

Treatment varies widely by country. Some accounts continue invested for non-residents, others must be wound down. India typically respects pension income with treaty relief if a DTAA exists.

What you should do

List every retirement account and provider
Confirm non-resident rules with each provider
Plan withdrawal timing across years

Talk to an expert (coming soon)

School transition

IB and Cambridge are the smoothest fits from most international curricula. CBSE / ICSE need a buffer term for pace and language. June intake aligns cleanest with the Indian academic year.

What you should do

Get grade mapping in writing
Request reference letter and reports
Plan a transition term

Banking and FX transfers

Open NRE and NRO in India before transferring large sums. NRE keeps interest tax-free during your RNOR window. Avoid one-shot FX moves at bad rates.

What you should do

Open NRE and NRO early
Spread transfers across 2 to 4 months
Track rates and fees per bank

Shipping household goods

One consignment is usually simpler for Indian customs. Get 2 to 3 quotes that include India-side handling and customs duty.

What you should do

Decide ship vs sell per item
Get 2 to 3 quotes
Photograph and inventory everything

First weeks after landing

Aadhaar, PAN, KYC updates and India health insurance are day-one priorities. Plan a service apartment buffer for the first 4 to 8 weeks while you find housing.

What you should do