India boasts a rich cultural heritage, with its diverse cuisine, stunning architecture and vibrant festivals, all contributing to a history that spans thousands of years. Whether you’re drawn to bustling cities, scenic mountain landscapes or tranquil beaches, India offers something for everyone. Additionally, the relatively low cost of living compared to the U.S. makes it an attractive destination for those considering retirement abroad. However, before making the decision to retire in India, it’s essential to ensure that your financial plans are well-prepared and suited to your chosen location.
Do you have questions about retiring abroad? Speak with a financial advisor today.
Getting an Indian Visa
India offers a vast array of visas, many of them tailored to people with a specific vocation or people from a specific country. As such, there’s no retirement visa. However, there are several visas that will allow you to stay in India for extended periods:
- A standard tourist visa allows you to stay in the country for 180 days at a time. To renew the visa, you’ll have to return home and not re-enter India for two months. You may repeat this process as much as you’d like for up to six years. After that period, you’ll have to reapply for a tourist visa.
- A business visa lets a person stay in the country for a year, or for the length of an employment contract.
- There’s also a visa for people of Indian origin, meaning individuals who have held Indian nationality in the past, are the spouse of someone with Indian origin, or a spouse or dependent of someone who has a long-term Indian visa. These individuals can stay in India for up to five years.
Housing Costs in India
Foreign nationals can’t legally buy property in India unless they have earned legal residence in the country for 180 days per year. It’s also illegal to buy property on a tourist visa or to purchase property jointly with an Indian national, person of Indian origin or a non-resident Indian.
Foreigners may rent homes in India, however. The cost of rent in India is 87% lower than the cost of living in the U.S., according to Numbeo. The national average for a one-bedroom apartment in the average city center of India is about $201 per month. This is compared to the national average of a one-bedroom apartment in the U.S., which is about $1,758 per month. For those who want more space, the national average of a three-bedroom apartment in a city center in India is $475 per month. That contrasts with the national average in the U.S. of $2,933 per month.
Taxes in India
As someone on a tourist visa, you won’t be required to pay taxes in India. You also won’t be allowed to work. If you’re on a resident visa, you will be required to pay taxes on income earned in India. If you earn less than 500,000 rupees, or about $5,950, you won’t be taxed on your income. After that, the tax rate is 20% on the income you earn over $5,950.
As a U.S. citizen, you must file a tax return in the U.S. each year. If you earn any money outside of the U.S., you can use a few different provisions to reduce your U.S. taxable income. These include the foreign earned income exclusion, the foreign tax credit and the foreign housing exclusion, among others. If you’d like to forecast your tax burden more specifically, you may want to consult with a tax expert who is familiar with both the U.S. and your country of residence’s tax laws.
Healthcare in India
India operates a free healthcare system, but it’s underfunded by global standards and ranks in the lower half of the World Health Organization list of national healthcare systems. Therefore, highly trained healthcare workers tend to leave the country to work elsewhere, and the hospitals are largely understaffed.
India has a private-sector health system that is much closer to western standards. Most families pay out-of-pocket for private healthcare and several opt for health insurance.
Private healthcare and health insurance are recommended for visitors to India. Most major cities have western-style public hospitals that treat both emergencies and non-emergencies. Not all healthcare insurance providers are recognized by Indian hospitals, and visitors sometimes must pay out of pocket for their treatment.
Safety in India
India sometimes has threats of domestic terrorism, which are typically carried out against locals or local governments by specific groups. However, sometimes areas frequented by westerners are also targeted. These areas may include train stations, restaurants and markets.
Religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims sometimes erupt in violence, and some Hindu groups have attacked members of indigenous Christian communities. Check the U.S. State Department’s website for current alerts.
Another safety concern in India is personal health. Westerners often don’t have the natural resistance to bacteria that’s commonly found in the water, so westerners are encouraged to not order drinks with ice that could melt and contaminate drinks. Additionally, be careful about how food and drinks are handled before being served to avoid personal health concerns. This includes making sure that vegetables aren’t washed in contaminated water and ensuring that utensils haven’t been contaminated, as well.
Bottom Line
While India is a beautiful country full of wonderful places to visit, it isn’t possible to simply retire in India. However, visitors can spend up to six months at a time there. For some, this is plenty of time to enjoy the beaches and other scenery before moving on. If you’re looking for an active retirement full of movement and adventure, India might be the right place for you to visit once or to frequently travel to during retirement if it fits into your budget.
Tips for Achieving Your Retirement Goals
- No matter where you want to retire, you may want to consider working with a financial advisor to prepare. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- It’s tough to plan for your retirement if you aren’t sure what kind of costs you’ll have when you retire. To get an idea of what to expect, stop by our retirement calculator. To use this, you’ll need a few details about where you want to retire, when you want to retire and how much you have in savings.
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