Repatriate Money from India to UAE: Complete NRI Guide

As an NRI, you can send money to the UAE from India through your authorized Indian bank after proving the source of funds and completing the applicable tax and banking formalities. With an NRO account, eligible balances and assets can generally be repatriated up to USD 1 million per financial year, subject to applicable FEMA conditions. Current income such as rent, pension, dividends and interest has separate repatriation treatment. NRE and FCNR(B) funds are generally freely repatriable, subject to applicable banking and FEMA requirements.

India has specific rules, set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), for sending money abroad. Use the right bank accounts, complete the applicable tax and FEMA requirements, and check exchange rates and transfer fees beforehand. In this guide, we break down everything you need to know to legally repatriate money from India to the UAE without hidden costs.

Which Funds Can NRIs Repatriate To The UAE?

NRIs can fully or partially repatriate specific types of funds from India to their UAE bank account, depending on the source of income and the type of account used for Repatriation.

Fully Repatriable Funds

• NRE Account Balance: NRE stands for Non-Resident External account and has savings or fixed deposits. Funds held in an NRE account, including eligible principal and interest, are generally freely and completely repatriable, subject to applicable FEMA and banking requirements.
• FCNR(B) Deposits: This type of account lets you hold foreign currency in Indian banks, and like an NRE account, eligible principal and interest are generally fully repatriable, subject to applicable RBI/FEMA and banking requirements.
• Repatriable Mutual Funds & Securities: Investments made by NRIs on a repatriation basis in eligible Indian equities or mutual funds can generally be sold, and the eligible proceeds can be repatriated subject to the applicable FEMA investment rules, taxes and banking requirements.

Conditionally Repatriable Funds (NRO Account)

• Annual Repatriation Limit Is USD 1 million: You can generally repatriate up to USD 1 million per financial year from eligible NRO balances and other qualifying assets, subject to the applicable FEMA conditions and documentation.
• Current Income: You can also repatriate regular Indian income, such as rent, pension, dividends, interest and so on, subject to applicable tax requirements and the authorised dealer bank's documentation requirements.
• Sale of immovable property: Proceeds from the sale of eligible immovable property can be repatriated, subject to certain conditions. The treatment depends on:
• How the asset was acquired.
• Whether it was purchased using foreign funds.
• Whether the property was bought or inherited.
• The type of property sold.
• Whether the applicable two-property restriction applies.
• How much of the funds are already repatriated through the financial year.
• Whether the USD 1 million facility applies to the particular property or asset.

Where an NRI or OCI acquired eligible residential property using foreign exchange received through banking channels or funds from an NRE/FCNR(B) account, repatriation of sale proceeds is subject to the applicable conditions, including the restriction of not more than two such residential properties. Property acquired through inheritance, legacy or rupee funds may instead fall under the USD 1 million per financial year facility, subject to the applicable FEMA requirements.

Funds Subject to Specific Restrictions / Non-Repatriable Funds

• Agricultural Property Proceeds: Agricultural land, plantation property and farmhouses are subject to specific FEMA restrictions. The repatriation of proceeds from such assets depends on how the property was acquired, inherited or held and the applicable FEMA provisions. Therefore, such proceeds should not be treated as automatically freely repatriable.
• Certain Inherited Assets: Eligible inherited assets may generally be repatriated under the applicable FEMA provisions. The USD 1 million per financial year facility may apply to qualifying inherited assets, subject to documentary evidence and other applicable requirements. Remittances exceeding the prescribed limit or falling within specified restricted cases may require additional approval.

A Few Things To Remember

To repatriate inherited money from India to the UAE, the bank may ask for a few documents. These may include the will and probate documents, a legal heir or succession certificate, the deceased's death certificate, asset-sale documents, and evidence supporting the source and ownership of the funds.

While repatriating, the sale proceeds must not be treated as freely transferable and tax-free. First, review capital gains tax, TDS and the applicable FEMA requirements.

Documents Required for Repatriation

Every bank may have a different list of documents for processing an NRI repatriation request. Ask your authorised dealer bank in India for its latest NRI repatriation document checklist and check it before arranging the documents.

However, commonly requested documents may include:

• A valid passport
• PAN (Indian tax identification number)
• UAE residence visa or Emirates ID
• Proof of UAE address
• Indian and UAE bank account statements
• Canceled cheque or proof of the receiving account
• Remittance request form
• Form A2, where required
• Source of funds declaration
• Tax payment evidence
• Filed income-tax return, wherever relevant
• TDS certificates or tax statements
• Form 145/Form 146, where applicable
• Bank-specific undertaking or indemnity

When Are Form 145 and Form 146 Required?

Under the new Income Tax Act, 2025, Forms 145 and 146 replaced Forms 15CA and 15CB on April 1, 2026. 

Form 145 is used for prescribed foreign payments/remittances to a non-resident or a foreign company under the Income Tax Rules, 2026. Its applicable part depends on the taxability and amount of the remittance and whether an Assessing Officer or Chartered Accountant certificate is applicable. Form 146 is required as a CA certificate when the overall taxable remittance exceeds Rs 5 lakh and you have not yet obtained an Assessing Officer certificate. 

You have to file Form 145 (which replaced Form 15CA) on the online Income Tax Department portal. The form is divided into four parts depending on your taxability and the threshold. Form 146 is a mandatory CA certification required only for filing Part C of Form 145.

The CA issues Form 146 after assessing the nature of the payments, the applicable provisions of the Income Tax Act 2025 or the relevant DTAA, and TDS deductibility. 

How To Repatriate Money From India To the UAE

The following is the common process to remit money from India to the United Arab Emirates. 

Step 1: Identify The Source And The Account Type

• NRO Account: Funds repatriated from NRO accounts are repatriable after applicable taxes, and the repatriation limit is capped at USD 1 million per financial year.
• NRE/FCNR Account: Eligible funds are generally freely repatriable, subject to applicable FEMA and banking requirements. The underlying income or transaction may still have separate Indian tax implications.

Step 2: Pay The Taxes And Complete The Documentation (For NRO Accounts) 

Pay all the applicable taxes on the income sources. 

Where applicable, file Form 145 through the Income Tax Department portal using the appropriate part based on the taxability and amount of the remittance. The form helps you certify compliance with tax requirements. 

Where Part C of Form 145 applies, obtain Form 146 from a Chartered Accountant for a taxable remittance or aggregate of such remittances exceeding ₹5 lakh during the tax year. If an Assessing Officer certificate is obtained and Part B is used, Form 146 is not required for that filing.

Step 3: Gather Beneficiary Details In The UAE

Get the recipient's bank name, bank details, branch address, full name, etc. 

Then get the recipient's IBAN, which is mandatory for remitting funds in the UAE, and the bank's BIC or SWIFT code. 

Step 4: Submit the Outward Remittance Request

• Then log in to your Indian bank's internet banking portal, or, if you prefer to confirm offline, visit the authorized dealer branch. 
• Fill out Form A2, where required by the authorised dealer bank, as the declaration for the foreign exchange transaction/remittance.
• Then upload or attach the supporting documents requested by the bank, including your PAN card, recent bank statements, source-of-funds documents and applicable tax forms or certificates, such as Form 145/Form 146 where required.

Step 5: Execute & Track the Transfer

Authorize the transfer and pay any applicable foreign-exchange conversion, wire-transfer or other bank fees required. Once the authorised dealer bank completes its checks, the funds may take additional banking time to reach your UAE bank.

Transfer Charges And Processing Time

When transferring money from India to the UAE, the total transaction charges may include a fixed bank fee, foreign-exchange conversion spread, SWIFT or correspondent-bank fees, intermediary bank fees, receiving bank deductions and other applicable taxes or charges on banking services.

With this processing time, the most straightforward, simple, error-free transfers are completed within one to five working days after approval. Overall, this is an estimate and not a guaranteed timeline as the timeline varies and it may take longer when: 

• Provided documents are incomplete.
• The name and the IBAN do not match.
• The overall transfer involves inheritance or property-sale proceeds.
• Tax figures do not match the bank records.
• The applicable repatriation limit or eligibility requires additional verification.
• When there is an Indian or UAE banking holiday.

The Bottom Line

NRIs can send money to the UAE seamlessly by following the accurate route. However, the route depends on the source and the account of funds. NRE and FCNR balances are easier to repatriate, while NRO funds require closer review. 

If you're an NRI planning international money transfers and want professional assistance, Savetaxs is the name to trust. Our experts will review your fund sources, calculate applicable taxes in India, and prepare required documentation. Professional assistance can be especially useful for NRI business owners, professional investors, or those with inherited assets.

With us at Savetaxs, we review your India-to-UAE repatriation documents before you submit the transfer request to your bank.

Connect with us, as we serve our clients 24/7 across all time zones.